Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance
against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. ~Colossians 3:12-13
As the Lord has forgiven you…beautiful. If I could hear these words every morning spoken gently in my heart as I wake I believe I would walk a little more upright through the day. A few nights ago I attended a training for a ministry at the church. We needed to learn what to do because next weekend we will be opening the doors to our brand new church and the layout is different. After 5 minutes of being there the person that I had an issue with last week (one of the scenarios in which I responded to) came up to me and asked if we could speak alone. Honest to God an overwhelming love filled my heart and I smiled because I knew we needed to make this right. Once alone she immediately apologized and she tried to explain where the reaction came from but I did not need to hear I reached out to her and we hugged. I apologized if I seemed brass but she shook her head and acknowledged the treatment to me was unfair. All in all we ‘beared with one another and forgave’.
As I near the countdown to taking off for the WYD Pilgrimage I feel as if God is clearing my personal path and giving me specific direction on this spiritual journey. Last night I had the privilege of spending some time with a dear friend I haven’t seen in awhile. We declared it would be a ‘casual, low key’ evening and she fit right in playing Apples to Apples with me and the boys, and then SORRY. Eventually the boys tired of us and gave us the blessing of some time to really catch up.
For eight years my friend and her husband have been going through an extended period of suffering, one which has dipped and peaked with many valleys and the terrain has yet to even out into a peaceful flatland. We were discussing the latest sudden valley which immediately had her calling on her friends to pray (which I did fervently) and by the grace of God the very next morning He answered with a sudden turn and the possibility of seeing a brand new horizon. This opportunity is so sudden and so perfect she voiced a fear of it not coming to pass and then truly sending them into a crater of final despair. As quick as she was to voice this fear she turned it around and acknowledged that she was letting the fear go. “God has taken care of us since 2004 when this all began, how can I suddenly assume He wouldn’t continue to provide? My only concern is if it doesn’t happen will the rest of my family be able to accept God’s will knowing He will bring us another opportunity?”
Even though she was referring to her situation I know God is always working double time because in many ways she was speaking to my heart. With this sudden God given opportunity that could be coming my way I realize that I have been stuck in that same fear, but not for others to accept but for myself. I told her this and in so many words said, “It’s almost as if I don’t feel I’m worthy of something like this to be given to me? It is only something that happens to others.” My dear friend interrupted, “Do not say you are not worthy. Regardless if this comes true for you, something like this is what you’ve worked for and what you deserve because of who you are and where God has brought you. It would be a travesty to not accept the gift and to pray in thanksgiving as you wait for a definite answer for this possible gift. And if it’s not given then know God will bring you what is right for you.”
When she finished we both looked at each other and smiled. 🙂 It is a joy to hear God speak through us to one another.
In 3 days and 3 hours I will be on a plane headed to Lourdes, France to spend two days in the Lourdes with St. Bernadette. I don’t expect or anticipate the ‘mystical’ (though it would be cool! 😉 ) but I am giddy to be in the place of the Saint that reached out to me from the ethereal veil of heaven to touch upon my spirit that I have what it takes to be bold in the message He wants to deliver through me.
I just can’t stand it I’m so excited! 🙂
Blessings
Shannon