This will come as no surprise--life isn't fair. I've come to the conclusion that this is one of those life lessons that's best learned early on--say, by high school. I'm still struggling to learn and accept this. My best friend found out last week that her job was being eliminated due to budget cuts. And just at the end of the school year when her husband is finishing up subbing and there were so many things they wanted to do for their son. It's not fair! And the repercussions are so unfair especially when I think about their son who will be a senior this fall. It's just not fair!
And then there is my mother who has Alzheimer's. Those of you who deal with this know how unfair this awful disease is. I've kept a "stiff upper lip" and held on to "she's living with this." But the disease is progressing and it may not be long before I have to accept she is now dying from AD. It's really unfair!
And I could post so many unfair situations happening all around me, and every one out there could add lots more. The world in general, the way it's changing so fast, the way I can't seem to keep up--it's not fair! But if we focus on only what is unfair, we'll become bitter and angry. Nor do we want to put on the rose colored glasses and deny the situation. It is what it is.
So how do we cope with the unfairness of life? For me, first of all, I hold on to my faith in my Heavenly Father and the relationship I have with JESUS. My salvation is an anchor I hold on to tightly. I confess from there, it get's harder. I have a difficult time trusting the LORD and trusting that He has my best in mind. That best isn't always that everything will go well--it may be hardships, testings and suffering--all those unfair things in life. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Plans for good and not for evil--that doesn't sound like unfair things. But the word for good or prosper in Hebrew is Shalom, peace. A peace that reflects GOD is in control and He is working in our lives to bring what will bring us well-being, wholeness, what is for our best. What is for our best may not be pleasant, it may seem very unfair!
I have learned that I have a lot of growing yet to do even though I will soon be turning 50. I am a long way from reflecting JESUS in my life. But that's what Christians do when they walk with the LORD--they grow and change, becoming more and more like the Master we serve It's not easy and it often doesn't seem fair. But a caterpillar does not become a beautiful butterfly without spinning a cocoon and going through the struggle of metamorphosis. A caterpillar may very well think "it's not fair!" until he (or she) emerges from the chrysalis and marvels at what he's become through the creative working of the Holy Spirit.
So this is part of my journey--struggling with "it's just not fair!"; hurting for my friend and her family; grieving for my mother as she slips away. I do my best to hold on to my faith, which doesn't always feel like a big enough anchor, and ask the LORD to "help my unbelief:" so that whatever plan He has for my good, to make me more like Him, will come about. I pray today these words give you some hope and encouragement as you wrestle with "it's just not fair!", and I pray that you will be reminded that there is Someone who walks with us through every struggle. Shalom...
Monday, June 4, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Sometimes It's Hard to be a Woman...
Tomorrow is Mother's Day. A day when we celebrate mothers and grandmothers, aunts and sisters, wives and all of the special women in our lives. But I've been thinking about a line from an old Tammy Wynette song, "sometimes it's hard to be a woman..." That song was "Stand By Your Man" and I'm actually not thinking about philandering husbands. I'm really thinking about how hard it can be to have a nurturing spirit and a maternal instinct. GOD did not bless my husband and I with children, but I have nieces and nephews, godchildren and people who have come into my life and for a while been my "children". I know many, many women who are mothers and grandmothers and aunts, and I see not just the joy, but the pain and heartache also. In our small congregation, we have three women who have had an adult child pass in the last year, one who had a grandson pass, her sister is also in our church, who is the aunt. There are two who nearly lost grandsons in accidents, and most of our women have had frustrating experiences with children and grandchildren. It can be hard to be a woman!
I myself have felt the hurt of giving of myself in a mother like way then have that person leave my life. Some of that hurt is mingled with joy because of the time that they were in my life. And with others, there is disappointment because of the way the relationship has ended. And I admit, being a pastor's wife and lay pastor, I often find myself being like Deborah in the Old Testament book of Judges. She is described as a mother to Israel. A woman who ruled over the people of Israel and saw not only their obedience to the LORD, but also their disobedience and their turning away. Being a mother to those in my church has not been easy, but it's nothing compared to the pain and suffering of having a child, biological or adopted, die either in infancy or youth, or as an adult. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a child turn away and no longer want anything to do with you. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman!
I thank GOD for sending His Son, JESUS, to this earth. JESUS lived here, raised by His mother, sisters and I'm sure aunts and cousins and other women as well. In His three years of ministry, there were several women who were included as disciples. Although not one of the twelve, these women were important for their support and service to JESUS and to the twelve. And we should never think that these women were some kind of "camp follower". They sat at JESUS' feet, being taught and learning what this new Kingdom of GOD was all about. They were being commissioned to be sent out along with the men. JESUS knew that if the Kingdom of GOD was going to flourish, it would need the nurturing, maternal spirit of women. It would need our insight, our mother instinct, our ability to see what men often overlook. It would need women to teach and mentor other women--and sometimes men, too.
In the beginning, GOD created male and female, man and woman, Adam and Eve. Eve was created to be a helpmate, one who completed Adam. This has been GOD's design from the very beginning--men and women need each other. We are created differently and it takes both in harmony together.
So on those days when it's hard to be a woman, remember that you have been created by GOD. Our Heavenly Father celebrates you and delights over you. If you have accepted CHRIST as your LORD and Savior then you are a co-worker with Him, and even more, you are a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He knows how hard it can be, and how rewarding. Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, a teacher, a case worker, even a student on a college campus, wherever in life you find yourself, chances are there is someone looking to you. And there is someone that you look to.
I am so thankful for the women in my life--my mother and sister, my friends, and all of the women in my church and in the faith community, who are also mothers and aunts and sisters to me. I ask that GOD would continue to help me learn and grow so that I can be a better influence in their lives, and help them in their walk with JESUS.
Happy Mother's Day! And if this day is a difficult, hurtful one for you, my prayers go out to you. I pray that the LORD will wrap His arms around you and surround you with His love and peace. He treasures you and appreciates you, the woman He created. There are many ways to be a mother in the Kingdom of GOD and many ways that GOD can use you to touch others' lives. Go in peace, GOD's perfect shalom, and carry that peace as only a woman can!
I myself have felt the hurt of giving of myself in a mother like way then have that person leave my life. Some of that hurt is mingled with joy because of the time that they were in my life. And with others, there is disappointment because of the way the relationship has ended. And I admit, being a pastor's wife and lay pastor, I often find myself being like Deborah in the Old Testament book of Judges. She is described as a mother to Israel. A woman who ruled over the people of Israel and saw not only their obedience to the LORD, but also their disobedience and their turning away. Being a mother to those in my church has not been easy, but it's nothing compared to the pain and suffering of having a child, biological or adopted, die either in infancy or youth, or as an adult. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a child turn away and no longer want anything to do with you. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman!
I thank GOD for sending His Son, JESUS, to this earth. JESUS lived here, raised by His mother, sisters and I'm sure aunts and cousins and other women as well. In His three years of ministry, there were several women who were included as disciples. Although not one of the twelve, these women were important for their support and service to JESUS and to the twelve. And we should never think that these women were some kind of "camp follower". They sat at JESUS' feet, being taught and learning what this new Kingdom of GOD was all about. They were being commissioned to be sent out along with the men. JESUS knew that if the Kingdom of GOD was going to flourish, it would need the nurturing, maternal spirit of women. It would need our insight, our mother instinct, our ability to see what men often overlook. It would need women to teach and mentor other women--and sometimes men, too.
In the beginning, GOD created male and female, man and woman, Adam and Eve. Eve was created to be a helpmate, one who completed Adam. This has been GOD's design from the very beginning--men and women need each other. We are created differently and it takes both in harmony together.
So on those days when it's hard to be a woman, remember that you have been created by GOD. Our Heavenly Father celebrates you and delights over you. If you have accepted CHRIST as your LORD and Savior then you are a co-worker with Him, and even more, you are a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He knows how hard it can be, and how rewarding. Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, a teacher, a case worker, even a student on a college campus, wherever in life you find yourself, chances are there is someone looking to you. And there is someone that you look to.
I am so thankful for the women in my life--my mother and sister, my friends, and all of the women in my church and in the faith community, who are also mothers and aunts and sisters to me. I ask that GOD would continue to help me learn and grow so that I can be a better influence in their lives, and help them in their walk with JESUS.
Happy Mother's Day! And if this day is a difficult, hurtful one for you, my prayers go out to you. I pray that the LORD will wrap His arms around you and surround you with His love and peace. He treasures you and appreciates you, the woman He created. There are many ways to be a mother in the Kingdom of GOD and many ways that GOD can use you to touch others' lives. Go in peace, GOD's perfect shalom, and carry that peace as only a woman can!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
New beginnings
It's Sunday morning, the first day of the week, and I am beginning a new adventure. I never have thought that I would do a blog, but there seems to be so much that I would like to share about my journey of following JESUS. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that those who wait in hope upon the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. So the purpose of this blog is to share what I am learning as I walk with the LORD. I am a pilgrim who sometimes walks, sometimes runs, sometimes soars and sometimes fall flat on her face. And yet, I keep learning and growing, and prayerfully, as I do, I can share my voyage with the Captain of my heart and spirit.
It will be an adventure as I am not particularly "tech savvy", but that is also part of the growing process. I hope that you will share my journey and prayerfully gain some insight even as I do. Let the voyage begin!
It will be an adventure as I am not particularly "tech savvy", but that is also part of the growing process. I hope that you will share my journey and prayerfully gain some insight even as I do. Let the voyage begin!
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