Today's readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1:1-4,6; Luke 9:22-25
It’s really funny…yesterday I was wondering about
the direction I would take on this reflection and then one of my sisters called. She gave me a great compliment-she told me
that she doesn’t believe I’ve ever had one of those “bad” periods of life where
I just ignored all the right things and did all the wrong things.
Although I may disagree with her a little on that
assessment…there is a little reason as to why it may have appeared that I have
not had one of those times.
I LOVE RULES! Seriously, people…I always feel great
when I have boundaries to help me out (that is what rules are after all).
I never
thought I needed to fight against rules…ESPECIALLY the ones I was told God
made.
Although I’ve had moments that I doubted some people
older than me knew more than I did, I never really tried to go against what was
asked of me. I know you’re all thinking
you wish you were my parents because I must have been an angelic child (I still
am pretty angelic J ).
But I did struggle a lot with understanding the hurt that I saw and
experienced due to me “mistakenly” doing something wrong, or someone else doing
something wrong. I struggled a lot with
learning how to let other people love me in my weaknesses of not knowing how to
follow certain things. I struggled with
the understanding that love isn’t given only “by deserving it.” I remember there were many times I would get
so mad at my parents for showing a sibling (right after they did something very
wrong) the same amount of love and support that they would show me (right after
I got done doing all my chores).
And after memorizing The 10 Commandments in 2nd grade, I was so excited because I thought I knew how I was going to “make” God love me. I knew I could ace the test of the Commandments…I mean really-I would never kill anyone, take someone’s husband, I would definitely not swear (that would be so embarrassing), and I could go on with them but you can see where I am going with this. ;) I thought it was only the literal translation that I had to live by. And so I continued with this life of believing that the only way to get God to love me was to follow His Commandments (literally), and if I don’t…God won’t REALLY love me (I always believed God “loved” everyone, but in my ignorance I thought it was more of an “I’ll put up with you” type of love).
And after memorizing The 10 Commandments in 2nd grade, I was so excited because I thought I knew how I was going to “make” God love me. I knew I could ace the test of the Commandments…I mean really-I would never kill anyone, take someone’s husband, I would definitely not swear (that would be so embarrassing), and I could go on with them but you can see where I am going with this. ;) I thought it was only the literal translation that I had to live by. And so I continued with this life of believing that the only way to get God to love me was to follow His Commandments (literally), and if I don’t…God won’t REALLY love me (I always believed God “loved” everyone, but in my ignorance I thought it was more of an “I’ll put up with you” type of love).
Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey
the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy…Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by
loving the LORD, your God, heeding his
voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD
swore he would give to your fathers
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (parts of Dt 30:15-20)
Yes! I
thought I had made it!
...
And, then that naïve little girl had to grow up. J And, man was I shocked to learn that I had no idea what I was talking about.
Some things I had to learn quickly:
- · Those 10 Commandments (and other ways God has asked us to live) should be understood more deeply than I could imagine (you mean “thou shalt not kill” doesn’t just mean I can’t physically kill someone…but that I also can’t gossip and spread rumors about someone-to “kill” their personhood so to speak).
- · God’s love is never earned…THANKFULLY!
- · My parent’s love is crazy love and a type of love that will frustrate me at times…but will truly help me to understand God’s love! And, if I can’t be happy with the love they show my siblings when they fall (cause remember-I never fall J hahaha)…there is no way I will be able to be happy with God’s even more infinite and crazy love.
- · I was going to have to go on a long, long, long journey of learning to let love in. To let people in my life-not because of what I can do for them…but…just because.
In other words, I had to learn how to understand
that bible passage better. J
I think most of us go through this feeling at least one time in life. We see people who are acting worse than us. And we truly, truly want everyone to go to Heaven…but man, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense in our poor little hearts to understand why they should get the same love we do.
Have I really never had one of those “bad” moments in life? Luckily, I’ve never put myself in danger and I’ve never given in to peer pressure to do things that would not be good for me. But, I believed that gave me an automatic “in” and that I did not have to go farther. Unfortunately, I did not understand how I should really follow them, and because of that I hurt a lot of people…by the way I acted. So, yes…I have definitely had that period in life.
I think most of us go through this feeling at least one time in life. We see people who are acting worse than us. And we truly, truly want everyone to go to Heaven…but man, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense in our poor little hearts to understand why they should get the same love we do.
Have I really never had one of those “bad” moments in life? Luckily, I’ve never put myself in danger and I’ve never given in to peer pressure to do things that would not be good for me. But, I believed that gave me an automatic “in” and that I did not have to go farther. Unfortunately, I did not understand how I should really follow them, and because of that I hurt a lot of people…by the way I acted. So, yes…I have definitely had that period in life.
How do you live out the commands of God? It doesn’t matter if you go to school, have a
job, or never see anyone in your day.
The way that we desire the good for others is challenged each day. Satan does not want us to be joyful for
other’s success and so he tempts us with doubt and frustration while we
struggle. We want what other people
have. We believe that if we had a
different life we would be happier. If
we had a different smile or look, people would like us more. If we could make more money, our family
would be happier. We are all broken…something
is holding us back. And we try to hide
that from the world.
During Lent, God is asking us to let Him in...and turn that brokenness in to joy.
The important thing to remember is to not give up!
These words from Moses are a life-long challenge. And if we want to have life in the place that God has promised us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we have to choose God and his love.
These words from Moses are a life-long challenge. And if we want to have life in the place that God has promised us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we have to choose God and his love.
Unfortunately for me that is hard to do at
times. I have had a lot of emotional and
physical struggle and being able to believe that it is a beautiful plan does
not make sense. Based on my life
experiences I don’t believe I’m wrong in saying that I’m not the only one who
feels this way about their life. How
amazing is God that He reminds us of this every moment…but encourages us every
year to focus specifically on recognizing our weaknesses and worries so that we
can place them in his hands and let them go.
Choose life!
Moses tells us that we have to do something about this love…Love requires action! If I live in the love of God, then I have to open myself to change, to selflessness, to sacrifice, to give, to celebrate, to laugh, etc.
How can we choose life?
Moses tells us that we have to do something about this love…Love requires action! If I live in the love of God, then I have to open myself to change, to selflessness, to sacrifice, to give, to celebrate, to laugh, etc.
How can we choose life?
- · By the way that we treat other people. How do we treat those that get on our nerves? How about those that we don’t understand? How about our family? Do we really appreciate other people in our lives?
- · By the way we see and treat ourselves. Do you believe you are beautiful? Do you believe you are worthy? Do you support yourself, or put yourself down?
- · By the real excitement we have in God’s mercy and forgiveness for ALL of His children.
- · TO LOVE LIKE THE ALMIGHTY FATHER LOVES US!
So, today I am going to appreciate the life God is asking me to live. There are so many things about my life that I think should be different. But, God has a beautiful plan. And today I am going to thank God for all the things I am able to do because of the life God is calling me to right now.
How can you follow the commands of God?
How can you take up your cross today so that you can choose life today?
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