I just sat here and read (and re-read) all of my older blogs. I decided to jump off course from the 50 Day Challenge for a day or two and post some updates. I heard a sermon last weekend titled “Encourage Me” and it has really impacted my life this week. The purpose of the sermon was to prepare the congregation for the arrival of their new pastor this weekend. The pastor that delivered the message went on to tell the congregation that the success of the church was not dependent on one person, i.e. the new pastor, but on each member. It is our job to encourage one another daily. The scripture was from Hebrews 10: 22-25.
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I have just been through a very difficult time in my life (yes, another one!). My biological father tried to commit suicide again last week. I have been through the entire gamut of emotions…fear, anger, sadness, grief, relief, hopelessness, etc. I was the one that found him. I sat beside his bed in ICU. I prayed that God’s precious will be done, even if that meant I lost my Dad. I visited him in the psychiatric hospital. I met with the counselors. I made arrangements to move him to a nursing home upon his discharge. I felt like I was all alone in this process and I was angry about it. I expressed my anger to my siblings, my uncles and really, anyone else that would listen to me! I made it all about ME and I was not very encouraging…I can promise you that!
After hearing that sermon, I really prayed that God would use me to be an encouragement to the people around me…my Dad, my siblings, my co-workers, my family and my friends. I quit texting all the “bad news” and I apologized to the people who I had attacked. I don’t know if it is too late or not, only God knows that for sure.
Once I quit with the negative approach and really looked at the situation closely, I realized that some pretty awesome things had happened during that time. A couple of people really stepped up and encouraged ME through this…Nick, Amy, Jacque, Leigh Anne, Traci, Misty, Daddy, Chris and Keith. Nick called EVERY day! He sent me text messages telling me to be strong, that he loved me, that I was making the right decisions…all things I needed to hear. Amy called me every day, she prayed for me, she even called Dad (that’s huge!). Jacque continued to call me daily…she has been my biggest encourager for the last year of my life. She called, texted, prayed and loved me no matter how “ugly” I acted. Sweet Leigh Anne came to the ER the night it happened. She sat with me, she cried with me, she checked on Dad several times a day (she works at ETMC) and snuck him rolls when he wanted them. She met me each and every time I visited him and comforted me with her sweet presence. Traci called me and texted me and prayed for me as well. Misty prayed for me and texted me the scriptures that she was reading during this time. Daddy drove from Carthage, met me in the ER and spent the night at my house. He said the funniest thing too…he said he was thinking on the way over, as he was driving too fast, (which really means he was driving the speed limit) what would he say to the highway patrol if they pulled him over…”sorry officer, I am on my way to the hospital to be with my daughter who is in the ER with her father!” Daddy made me laugh which was a big blessing! Chris was out-of-town, but he prayed for me, prayed for Dad and called me as often as he possibly could to check on me. Keith was the first call I made…he lives the closest to the Atria. He drove me to the hospital, he stayed with me until Daddy got there from Carthage, he texted, he called, he helped me move Dad’s things, he encouraged me, he talked me through the situation (after all, no one knows better than Keith how bad it really has been).
So, there were so many people who encouraged me during this time, but I had to step away to realize it. God has surrounded me with people who love me, encourage me and care about me. Now, it is my prayer that I can be that to all of them and others.
I had lunch with an old friend (actually she is young and in the throes of life with young children) the other day. She and her husband have come up against some hurdles in their marriage. We were talking about what she should do and I tried to encourage her. I told her I would pray with her for her marriage. I am praying that God will meet them at their hurdles and give them directions around, over, under or whatever, just not let them turn around and walk away. Hurdles are growing pains…like with the silver. God is heating them up so that He can remove their imperfections and make them more like Him. I need to call her and tell her to read the book.
I am so blessed! I pray that God would use me to be a blessing to others, to be an encourager, to show God’s love in all that I do (you know, the old “actions speak louder than words” thing!), to stop and pray for my family and friends and really petition God on their behalf.
God is really working in my life right now and it is fun to look back and see in how many ways….Happy Weekend!
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