It is that time of year again, a time to reflect on those who reside in the nearest and dearest category of your heart...friends, family, marriage partner, children - these are all part of a journey involving decisions. Decisions to love and be loved.
Let me explain. It seems that as humans we somehow feel good if we can show the world the beautiful scenery on our journey of love without also revealing the twists of learning curves, the hills of not feeling very loving,and those bumps of difficult circumstances. I do not mean that it is an attribute to be a grumbler or a complainer. No, it just seems that we could do better at focusing on the lessons God is teaching rather than shining the spotlight on the glamour shots of our lives.
They say practice what you preach, so here is a little glimpse into what the Lord has been teaching me about my decisions to love. My most recent lesson of love was during our recent twenty day tour down south with three days off and a total of twenty-three services. Though this was a very fun time with some really neat stops and cool pictures to bring home with us, it was also filled with moments of decision.
What a blessing it was to be able to meet so many people and minister God's love to them. I am specifically remembering the service we shared with the Fort Myers Rescue Mission. This was a time of such opportunity to share how God had a better plan for their lives - Salvation! However, this was also a time when the baby cried, the toddler would not sit still - they were just tired of church. The decision - love and be loved, or become grouchy and irritable. Then there was the nap scene, the packing scene, the yet another long van ride followed by another service - these were all filled with decisions. About two weeks into this maize of decisions, we were privileged to be ministered to by Bro. Nathan Purdy. He preached about having the demeanor of one that is in love - in love with Jesus. He reminded us of our continual need for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was exactly what I needed. Faced by the grind of the journey, the flood of so many choices, it felt as if my gears were grinding. I needed a spiritual bath in the oil of the Holy Spirit. Praise Him! He did not turn me away, but chose to love my soul just how I needed it.
You see it is like this, I think that the Lord has blessed me with just the best husband ever - he is always doing sweet things for me.
- Buying a card and filling it with so many sweet words - just because
- Giving that back rub when he would rather be sleeping - just because
- Helping out around the house or watching the girls - just because
- Letting me hang out with him and do all those crazy fun things - just because
- Taking his family along rather than just going and hanging out with the guys - just because
- Playing with his girls - just because
- Letting them tag along when it would be easier if they stayed home - just because
- Telling all his little girls and lady how pretty they are and that he loves them - just because
- Working so hard to provide for his family - just because
- Loving his family through Jesus - just because......No, I think it is one of those decisions again!
You would think with this sort of husband that I would never complain, feel grumpy, or be hard on him. Sad to admit, but I have found that life can start grinding along if I don't have that fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. It is only through His grace that He helps me to make that decision to love and be loved - that decision to love and respect my husband the way the Lord commanded me.
It is kind of humbling to admit that the Lord has to work on me so. I hope, however, that it is encouraging to others that, yes, my life does have so many fun times and those picture perfect moments; but it also has plenty of those little bumps, scrapes, and hills where the Lord has yet another personality flaw to sand away on, a human weakness to make strong through Him, or a lesson to be learned through gentle chastisement.
