Month: August 2016

Don’t Blink

cropped-summer-sun-yellow-photography5.jpg  It is that time of year again, when Social Media is full of tiny faces, smiling because it is the first day of Kindergarten. Their mommy has written their name and the date in chalk on a board, and they are smiling proudly for the camera. The mother posts in the comment section, that she just can’t believe they are old enough to go to Kindergarten. It seems like only yesterday they were newborns; now, in the blink of an eye, they are starting school.

Families are packing their cars and taking their teenagers to college for the first time. For some, this is their first experience with a child leaving home. They take pictures outside on the front porch at home, for one last time. The car is packed to the roof, and they head east or west on Interstate 40, taking their son or daughter to their destination. As they are driving away from the college, the parents both state they can’t believe their child is old enough to go to college. It seems like only yesterday they were starting Kindergarten; now, in the blink of an eye, they are starting college.

The “blink of an eye” can actually be several years, several minutes, or even several seconds. In life, we have the predictable things, such as a child starting Kindergarten, or a teenager starting college. We also have the unpredictable occurrences, such as a having a relative killed in a car accident, or lost to a deadly disease. Regardless of how it occurs, the “blink of an eye” can leave a hole in our hearts.

It truly does seem that time flies, that it passes in the “blink of an eye”. We can get so busy with our daily routine, that we fail to look at what truly matters, our family and close friends. We can be so busy trying to “get ahead” at work, that we fail to spend time with our family. The truth is, if we died tonight, our employer would clean out our desk and have someone in our place before we were cold.

I believe it would be fair to say that no one on their death bed wishes they had spent more time at work. They are probably thinking “if only”. If only I had seen more of my son’s baseball game. If only I had gone to more of my daughter’s dance recitals. If only I had taken my wife on that vacation she wanted.

It might be a really good idea for all of us to slow down a little and to spend more time with what really matters. God places people in our life. Our family and friends are a special gift from God. In the “blink of an eye” life can change. We should all be intentional about loving those under our own roof.

 

 

 

Alone in a Crowd

Have you ever felt like you were entirely alone, even in a crowd of people?  There could be a million people around you, and you still felt alone. If you are a “one” in a “plus one” society, you might have felt this way, probably more than once.

This is in no way a slam on marriage, or married couples. Married couples comprise a large part of the population. However, there are those who are married, but their spouse is not under the same roof. There are also those who have been married, but are now divorced or widowed. Then there are those who have never been married. These people are part of the “one” segment of society; and, they are often the ones who feel alone in a crowd.

It is very important for the “ones” to remember they fulfill some very important roles. The Bible gives examples of some “ones” who were faithful and fulfilled the mission that God gave them.

Anna, a prophet, was married for seven years, and then  a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, and spent her time praying and fasting. Mary and Joseph brought the eight-day old Jesus to the temple to be circumcised. Anna was one of the first people to see the Messiah. She saw him as a baby in Mary’s arms and knew he was the Messiah! Anna understood that God can make any stage of life meaningful.  Anna, a widow, a “one”,  was among the first to see our Messiah.

Jeremiah a prophet, was called by God to deliver his message to Judah. Jeremiah was obedient and delivered the message, often to people who refused to listen. He was rejected by his family, friends, kings, and his audience. God also told him he should never marry. This “one” was obedient and faithful to God’s call on his life.

Mary, Lazarus’s sister, poured expensive perfume on Jesus, and washed his feet with her hair. The disciples were upset that she had wasted the expensive perfume. They said the perfume could have been sold at a high price. Jesus asked why they were bothering Mary.  This “one” was preparing his body for burial.

Jesus, who never married, faced several times when he must have felt alone. In the beginning of his ministry, his own brothers did not believe in him. The night before he was crucified, his disciples couldn’t stay awake long enough to pray. On the day he was crucified, he cried out from the cross “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?”  Crowds were there to watch, but he felt alone as he died on the cross.

So, if you are going through life alone, remember that you are important to God. Some people have had to make the decision to place a spouse in a skilled facility. Others have had to say good-bye as their spouse entered into eternity. They are still around the same friends, same Sunday School class, same family, but without their spouse. This must be an incredibly difficult adjustment.

Some people face the life altering situation caused by divorce. They are now the head of the household and are responsible for all of the bills, house repairs, car repairs, and everything else that can occur on a daily basis. They have to discipline the children, only to have them go to the other parent’s house and be allowed to do as they wish.

You may be a “one” because you haven’t gotten married. Family and friends try to introduce you to someone “really nice”. There are the constant questions asking when you are going to “settle down”, as if being single means you can be settled on your own.

Regardless of how or why you are a “one”, you are never alone. Our Heavenly Father is always there for us. In Hebrews 13:5, He tells us “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He sent his Son to die on the cross for all of us. We are all important to Him, and he wants all of us to use our spiritual gifts.

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