My daughter and I pray together every night before bed. She's only two, so it's a simple one - "Thank you Jesus. Amen." She always shouts the "Amen" and is so excited to do it. Our sitter has a woodcut painting of Jesus in her entryway, so I pointed Him out to her a while back and told her "Jesus loves you." I didn't mention anything about it again for a while, so I was surprised and had to smile when she brought it up again herself.
We were in her room for some "quiet time" before bed, and I said "Mommy loves you." Normally she'd say "yeah" or "Wuv you too, Mommy." But this time, she instead went to my husband (who is agnostic) and said "Jesus wuvs you." And now, if you ask her "What does Jesus do?" she says "Wuvs you."
And in this tiny person and this adorably mispronounced sentence, I see everything I want to be when it comes to my relationship with God. Jesus loves you. It seems like such a simple thing, but it is so important to remember. Our Lord isn't just some celestial judge who sits far off and waves souls up to Heaven or down to Hell. He truly is our father. And he loves us. He loves us so much that he sent his son to die for our sins so that we could be saved by grace.
As humans, we tend to focus on our flaws, or what's wrong with us - or wrong with others. We write others off, or feel worthless ourselves. But what could possibly show our worth greater than the fact that the creator of all existence loves us? And not just in the way you totally love the designer jeans you got on clearance. He loves each of us individually, just as we love our own children - even more strongly than we love our own children, which is something I can't even wrap my mind around.
Meredith's enthusiasm also reminds me of what a wonderful gift it can be to share God's love with others. I've mentioned before that I'm not great at witnessing, but I am a firm believer in bringing joy to others. I get made fun of sometimes for constantly talking to absolutely everyone - people in the elevator, people at the sink in the bathroom, the clerk at the grocery store. But I challenge you to try it. You don't have to go all Chatty Cathy like I tend to, but try something little. Tell the woman next to you in the elevator that you like her shoes. Ask your co-worker where she got her earrings. (Clearly both of those work better if you're a woman.) Ask someone how they are, and really mean it and listen to the answer. Ask how someone's day is going, how they're feeling. Tell them they have a beautiful smile. Admire their kindness or generosity out loud. All of these things can make a person feel loved, even if only for a moment.
We share God's word, and we can also share His love without saying anything, if that's what you're more comfortable with. Leave a dollar taped to the vending machine at work. Put quarters in a few carts at Aldi before you leave. Put a gift card in your mailbox for your mail carrier. Throw a little extra onto the tip for your waitress who looks like she had a long day. Send a copy of your favorite book to a friend.
My daughter has no reservations about showing her love (aside from occasionally deciding she's too busy playing to give a hug or a kiss). And while I don't know that I'm going to start hugging strangers anytime soon (I might - I am Sicilian), I plan to study her example and be open with my love for others, just as God is so clear in His love for us. You never know what a person is going through, or how one word or act of love and kindness could change their day, or even their life. Fill up on God's love, and pour it out to others. Whatever you give out, I promise you'll get back many times over.
"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand - put a little love in your heart."
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
A Candle Shines Brightest in Darkness
I read a post on a message board I belong to about a woman who would not let her children associate with their best friends after finding out that the friends' parents were a gay couple. I have two problems with this:
1) Though not the focus of this post, further questioning by other members revealed that this woman did not keep her children from associating with children whose parents cheated, gambled excessively, etc. You can't say you don't want your children around those who don't share your values and then ignore all of your values but one. It's ridiculous, and it's going to confuse the kids.
2) As Christians, we are called to witness. To share God's word and the message of our salvation through Christ. To bring people to him. If we only associate with other Christians, how are we accomplishing that mission?
I did ask the woman about the second point, but I never received a response. I hope it at least made her think. I will admit that I'm not the best when it comes to witnessing (unless you count by attempted example or through this blog). Put me up on a stage in front of a thousand people, and I'll speak without a single stutter or shaking hand. But the thought of witnessing to someone one on one makes me want to vomit with anxiety. So I get if someone is hesitant. However, it's still necessary, and it can't really be accomplished if we isolate ourselves into separate pockets that only contain the saved.
Let's look at a few analogies to shine further light on this. Say you're asked to sponsor a family for Christmas this year. Do you go to the wealthy banker up the street who makes millions of dollars and whose family is financially set for the next three generations? Or do you go to the couple who lost their jobs and have no gifts for their children because they can barely afford food? The first already has everything - they don't need your gifts.
If your ship is sinking, and you need to hand out life jackets to the passengers, do you give one to a person who is already wearing one? Or do you give it to the person who doesn't have one at all?
Jesus walked among sinners. Whores. Criminals. Why? Because they were the ones who most needed His word. I can understand the hesitance. Jesus was God made man. You and I are not anywhere close to that level of holiness. And it's easy to worry that you may end up more in the world because you're associating with others who are in the world. But if you wrap yourself in God's word and God's grace, you can stay in Him and still walk among those who need you, just like Jesus did.
It's so easy, as human beings, to condemn others. To write off their sins as worse than ours. But when we say that, we are attempting to negate the grace that they have been given, just as we have. My sins are not any better than the sins of the people in my life who are atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan, or anything else. I don't get a free pass to write people off because I'm saved and they're not. Where would I be today if those around me who were saved had taken that attitude? If they'd left me out of their circles because I wasn't like them?
So if you've been saved, you have a responsibility to help and guide others. I'm not asking you to agree with them. I'm not asking you to live their life. Really, I'm not asking you anything. But God is asking that you share His light, and sometimes that means going where it's darkest.
1) Though not the focus of this post, further questioning by other members revealed that this woman did not keep her children from associating with children whose parents cheated, gambled excessively, etc. You can't say you don't want your children around those who don't share your values and then ignore all of your values but one. It's ridiculous, and it's going to confuse the kids.
2) As Christians, we are called to witness. To share God's word and the message of our salvation through Christ. To bring people to him. If we only associate with other Christians, how are we accomplishing that mission?
I did ask the woman about the second point, but I never received a response. I hope it at least made her think. I will admit that I'm not the best when it comes to witnessing (unless you count by attempted example or through this blog). Put me up on a stage in front of a thousand people, and I'll speak without a single stutter or shaking hand. But the thought of witnessing to someone one on one makes me want to vomit with anxiety. So I get if someone is hesitant. However, it's still necessary, and it can't really be accomplished if we isolate ourselves into separate pockets that only contain the saved.
Let's look at a few analogies to shine further light on this. Say you're asked to sponsor a family for Christmas this year. Do you go to the wealthy banker up the street who makes millions of dollars and whose family is financially set for the next three generations? Or do you go to the couple who lost their jobs and have no gifts for their children because they can barely afford food? The first already has everything - they don't need your gifts.
If your ship is sinking, and you need to hand out life jackets to the passengers, do you give one to a person who is already wearing one? Or do you give it to the person who doesn't have one at all?
Jesus walked among sinners. Whores. Criminals. Why? Because they were the ones who most needed His word. I can understand the hesitance. Jesus was God made man. You and I are not anywhere close to that level of holiness. And it's easy to worry that you may end up more in the world because you're associating with others who are in the world. But if you wrap yourself in God's word and God's grace, you can stay in Him and still walk among those who need you, just like Jesus did.
It's so easy, as human beings, to condemn others. To write off their sins as worse than ours. But when we say that, we are attempting to negate the grace that they have been given, just as we have. My sins are not any better than the sins of the people in my life who are atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan, or anything else. I don't get a free pass to write people off because I'm saved and they're not. Where would I be today if those around me who were saved had taken that attitude? If they'd left me out of their circles because I wasn't like them?
So if you've been saved, you have a responsibility to help and guide others. I'm not asking you to agree with them. I'm not asking you to live their life. Really, I'm not asking you anything. But God is asking that you share His light, and sometimes that means going where it's darkest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)