I was having a fit. A full-blown emotional temper tantrum. A pity-party and I was the guest of honor.
A wrench was thrown in my perfect plan that forced me to make a decision that troubled me. I went to my Friday morning online fellowship group with "my girls" but on this particular day only one was there. How unusual. Where was the rest of the group? Strange.
Randee, I have got to share with the the blessings our Father has thrown in my lap this week. One upon the other. She went on to share her good news. And, when she finished she asked...And, you? Share your blessings this week.
I don't have any. Maybe I should leave for today. I'm discouraged, disgusted, disgruntled, defeated. I don't want to rain on your parade. I'm happy for you but this is not my day, my week, my year. (Such an exaggeration!) I don't like anyone. I don't like myself. Goodbye.
Wait! What is going on with you? Let me carry your burden.
You don't know what you ask for, my friend.
I can handle it.
So, I wailed. Really wailed. And, she listened quietly.
When I finished my tirade, she simply said...Stop this. I see God all over this temporary situation. And, then she spoke the words that I will never forget:
This season is not about your comfort.
On that day, my friend, stopped me in my tracks. She called my reaction to my situation was it was...Sin. These women, who call it what it is, are our real friends. They care enough to be bold. To take the risk. And, how thankful I am for this friend. May I be a friend like this!
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5 comments:
Wow Randee, this topic has come up for me a couple of times just recently. A dear young friend of mine noticed that our community group is really good at empathizing and supporting each other, but not offering the accountability that we sometimes need. "This season is not about your comfort." I don't know if I'm the kind of friend who speaks so boldly, and yet - perhaps I need to work on being a better friend to others. I think I do.
Yesterday I also had a thought about how much I feel sorry for myself sometimes about a variety of things. Then I read this guest blog on CNN.com: http://snipurl.com/1k2pk by an 18-year-old boy who is dying of cancer and said this: "I accept what is to come, but I cannot rid myself of a deep mourning for all those experiences -- college, marriage, children, grandchildren -- that will probably never be mine to celebrate. What solace I do find is in the knowledge that I have done everything I can to transmute this terribleness into something positive by showing as many people as I can how to endure it with a smile."
How dare I complain? How dare I not see how much beauty there is in the world? How dare I not count all my blessings everyday?
Randee:
You would never understand how this came right on time. You know that I was on a high not too long ago - we went to Costa Rica to minister together and was it a high! However, not too long after I find myself in a deep valley of despair. I could not believe how low I had fallen after having climbed so high. I am, my friend, just barely climbing out. Thank you so much for reminding me what it really is all about.
Norka,
What if...the devil has deliberately set out to destroy the victory we had through Christ in Costa Rica by personal attack? It's not only plausible, it's probable. And, I have used those same words with a close friend regarding MY return from Costa Rica....a mountaintop experience followed by the valley of despair. Interesting that our lingo matches. Now, is the time to put on the full armor and God and go into battle. The war has been won and Satan knows that. All he has are these temporary battles. Thank you for sharing. Praying for you, Sister, praying.
Great post Randee. If we had it our way, we would always take the easy way out with things wouldn't we. Good thing God knows what is best for us and that is what gets me through those tough times and reminding myself that it is only temporary. It is through those times we learn to put on the armor of God but the easy times we let our guards down.
I think sometimes we can get too wrapped up in trying to be perfect...perfect thoughts, perfect feelings, perfect emotions, that we lose sight of the fact that God designed us with these characteristics. My feeling is that there is nothing wrong with being disappointed in someone or a certain situation. After I read this post I immediately had the picture of Christ in the garden praying so fervently for a situation to be changed that He sweated blood. I imagine he cried, as well. Granted, we're not facing death on a cross, but sometimes our loads feel as heavy. I think the point is that its ok to be disappointed, to wish things would change, but we after we pray about it we need to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and move on, just as Christ did.
I think that as far as "calling sin sin," we, as a society and as a church, have become very complacent in this area. We let certain socially acceptable behavior, dress and speech slip past without even a flinch. I think we need to get back to biblical basics and stand up against those things that we know are wrong.
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