Not Yet

I’ve been out of state and mostly out of touch for several weeks. I participated in a mission of mercy.

Upon my return an over-sized envelope, mailed to me by a close relative, stunned me. Two paragraphs detailed how the person does not “want to associate” with me anymore because, in that person’s opinion, me participating in that undertaking was “wrong”.

A long, long time ago I would have agreed.

Back then the person I just paused my life to minister to had broken my heart, violated my family and then did everything possible to destroy me. For years afterward, staying close to my sons often took all I had.

 

But here’s the thing:

I didn’t mend my broken heart. I didn’t restore my demolished spirit. I didn’t drive away the demons or recover my life. Nor did my family.

Jesus saved me.

And then Jesus saved the same person who hurt my family and tried to ruin me.

What’s more, Jesus wants to save the person that now hates what I most recently did in His name.

“…And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on [Jesus]. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”
― Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place

I understand. If I allow myself I can still feel all the pain. Again and again I prefer to feel how Love wins.

Despite being rejected by a loved one, given the chance to redo the past month, I would do it again.

Had I realized the relative was still bound in the past I would not have mentioned I was away or why.

Not yet.

 

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Images courtesy ABSFreePic.com

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Clarity

“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 (NLT)

 

Connect

Have I told you lately that I love the blogging community?

Imagine Heaven

I’m serious about that. Without getting all sappy here, the Blogosphere helps all y’alls feel heavenly at least now and then; someone posts something that rings in our souls, filling us with inexplicable joy (or at least makes us chuckle, think, rethink…) – reaffirming why we spend our time writing what we do. It’s what connects us.

I’ve been blessed with friends I never would have imagined – and yet we’ve never actually met (unlike my Erin and Roan whom I’ve known most of my life). These people get it. They make time to converse, explore different thoughts and perspectives. They not only work tirelessly to share life through their writing and blogging, but they devote time and energy to Pay it Forward and spread the good stuff around.

Today I not only have some free time, but God filled me with a spirit of appreciation for my friends. Somewhere in the blogosphere someone needs a ray of light and these folks are the brightest in my minuscule fleck in the universe.

So, this is me paying it forward today. If you haven’t met, stop by and say “Hi.” You won’t be sorry:

Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha at A Cooking Pot and TwistedTales,
Danny at Dream Big Dream Often,
Rick Christensen at Discovering and Sharing Grace,
Great Thinker of Stuff, Mitch Teemley at The Power of Story,
Diane D. at Ladies Who Lunch Reviews…
Michelle at The Malone Zone; Two Are Better Than One,
Sarah’s Attic of Treasures (full of different perspectives and new friends),
Simply Marquessa,
Jason Kushman at An Opinionated Man,
Jennymarie at Peace From Panic,
That’s So Jacob (this bright, witty guy brings it all to the table),
J.Gi at The End Justifies the Journey (this bright girl challenges one to think – and giggle some)
Larry at Quest – Clean and Serene in a Crazy World
Eugenia at Brew NSpew

Sincerest thanks and love to each and every one of you – and those for whom I couldn’t provide a link!

 

“He [God] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

 

Image courtesy Unspash