Sometimes I think reality has to slap us in the face to get us to wake up. Sometimes God brings people into your life to help get you through a situation or help guide you down the path you need to go. Sometimes He puts people in our lives that challenge us to be better people. In every experience you have, with every person that enters your life – whether good or bad; you have the opportunity to learn, to grow and to be an example.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is born.” I have always said you should be careful how you treat people because you never know the demons they are facing. Some demons are bigger than others, but they all haunt you none-the-less. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own little worlds that we feel maybe crumbling apart at any minute. Or locking ourselves into that safety deposit box we conceal ourselves in from the true outside world. It’s easy to forget that there are people who are facing bigger battles than we could ever possibly imagine.
It is often safer to wrap our arms around those material things we feel can give us comfort. Or take that drink, snort, shot or puff of magical essence to take the pain away instead of turning to the one that can heal you with His touch, with His word.
2 Corinthians 4:18: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that each and every one of us are here for a purpose. It is our duty to honor that. It is our responsibility to be an example of His love and grace. Lately I have been wallowing in some self-pity. I’ve been heartbroken over a friend whose poor judgements forced me to make some tough decisions that I didn’t feel were fair. I’ve been disappointed over a friend’s unwillingness to stand up and do the right thing. I’ve been frustrated at myself for so easily passing judgements in these situations. I’ve been sad because some long, deep friendships have been dramatically hurt and I don’t know if the damage can be repaired. I’ve been consumed with secrets that are not mine to know, keep or share. I’ve been scared to reach out and grab that hand that is offering me a second chance I thought would or could never come along. I’ve been haunted by ghosts in my life. I’ve been frustrated over the lack of progress in certain areas. I have been angrily plowing my way down a path of self destruction to blow up my heart. And for what??? Because I’m bored, because I’m sad, because my feelings got hurt, because I’m scared, because I’m confused and frustrated?
NO. Because I lost focus of what is the center of my life – God. Because I stopped trusting in His plan and in His way to get me where I need to go. Because I stopped listening to His words, His advice. Because I stopped confiding myself in Him and sought other methods to ease the pain.
Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings.
Sometimes we just need a wake-up call, a slap in the face from reality to make us snap back into the world of the living. Today I got that. A friend posted a link to a blog about a couple and their struggles. He had the opportunity to meet them when they were in Hawaii. He asked all of us to read this blog, that it would challenge you. And he was right. It not only challenged me, it brought me to my knees. It was my wake up call that there are bigger demons out there people are facing and bigger battles people are fighting than what is the little life of Lindsey. But more importantly, it was such an awesome example of the peace you can find in the Lord when put face to face with death himself.
This blog is the story of Sara and Brad, their fight against her breast cancer, the surprised bundle of joy – Chloe that entered their lives unexpectedly, the example of how truly trusting in the Lord can give you the armour needed to fight any battle thrown your way. Their story is a beautiful love story and an incredible witness of God’s glory. Yesterday, Sara lost her battle here on earth with cancer.
I encourage you to please take the time to read through their blog, as Chris promised – it will challenge you. –> http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/
In the blog, Brad (Sara’s husband) says “sometimes Jesus calms the storm and sometimes He calms the child.” There has literally been a massive storm brewing in Atlanta. Not only physically outside with all the flooding and devastation our town has experience, but a storm brewing inside my soul. Right now, He is calming both in me – the child and the storm.
Audrey Hepburn said, “To measure the man, measure his heart.” It was inspiring to read about both Sara and Brad’s hearts. It was the wake-up call I needed. As I continue trudging down my road to recovery my prayer is that my heart will only grow stronger in the Lord, as it grows stronger medically. And when the day comes that I have reached the end of my road, my prayer is that you will be able to measure me by my heart and see through the example I lead of the mercy, glory and love that is God’s grace. In the meantime, I just pray that God will calm this storm.
Don’t wait to take your second chance – grab with both hands and hold on tight. Don’t think it is ever too late to do the right thing, to make things right. We only have this one life. The good man never said life would be easy, only that it would be worth it. Make your life worth it!
Salt is Not the Spice of Life's Blog 