“How are you doing?” we ask as we pass one another in the lobbies that lead to our sanctuaries.
Regardless of whether or not we think about it, we don’t really plan to hear any answer beyond a clutch of cliches that may or may not be true.
“Fine.” “Good.” “Okay.”
But what else is there to say, without verbally vomiting our emotions all over an unsuspecting brother or sister?
Perhaps, in our times of pain in a community that weeps with those who weep, we could find a way to say something like this …
I am not okay, but one day I will be.
Maybe in this life. Maybe in the next one.
Because God is good, I will plead for it to happen now.
Because God is wise, I can wait for it to happen later.
Because Christ is risen, I can rest in his power when my power is gone.
On this same note and concurrent to current social events, I enclose the following quote from Melissa Mayberry: " Just because I feel like no one has said it . . .
To the woman who is pro-life, You are loved beyond measure.
To the woman who is pro-choice, You are loved beyond measure.
To the woman who is on the fence, You are loved beyond measure.
To the woman who is heart broken from being told she is unable to have children, You are loved and created for a purpose.
To the woman who is excitingly pregnant with her fifth child even though her family says it is 'irresponsible', You are loved and created for a purpose.
To the woman who found out the child inside her would cost her her life and chose to abort, You are loved and created for a purpose.
To the woman who's world has been turned upside down when her child's heart stopped beating inside her womb, There is endless unconditional love for you.
To the woman who is on the bathroom floor looking at two pink lines after running from their abusive partner, There is endless unconditional love for you.
To the woman who has to make an impossible decision when she was told her child was not forming properly and was in extreme pain, There is endless unconditional love for you.
To the woman who's abortion haunts her everyday, There is grace and incredible love for you.
To the woman who was raped and found out she was pregnant and decided not to carry the child, There is grace and incredible love for you.
To all of the women who had to make a choice to bring life into the world or to end it and to the ones who were not given a choice, I hope you know that His grace and love is endless for you. Regardless if people say your choice was 'right' or 'wrong' and with all the hatefullness on both sides. I hope you know that you are loved by the savior of the world. He understands your pain/grief/worry/doubt and every other thing you had to go through. And you are priceless and endlessly loved in His eyes. And mine. (I apologize for those who told you different)
You are loved beyond measure.
-Mel
Woman. Imperfect. Sinner loved by God"
What a wonderful commentary for today! ( Even if her grammar and punctuation is off a bit!)
If we, as Christians and followers of Christ, are to be transparent, vunerable, selfless sacrifices and full of agape as He was, we will seek out the hurts of others as their pains and sufferings become magnets to our souls to the end that we can then point others not to ourselves but to the One who best relates to their humanity in suffering, pain, anguish and even joy and happiness. He has been down that road, more than we can ever realize.