I've been away for nearly two weeks. I've had little access to the internet. I don't own a laptop, so I am dependent on the availability of the internet and of time wherever I am staying. But it has been a good two weeks. In Rochester, NY I conducted a workshop on writing as the mission of God in the world at Northeastern Seminary's Annual Conference on Ministry. Andy Crouch, who wrote Culture Making, was the plenary speaker. He was fantastic, genuine, and knowledgable.
While there, we visited our friends (who are indeed family). I certainly cannot thank God enough for the role that the body of Christ at Rochester Christian Reformed Church has played, and continues to play, in our life. They are our mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and children.
As we left Rochester, we headed west to Toledo, Ohio to visit my husband's family. We stayed briefly. Just over night, for we were headed northwest to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a wedding. It was beautiful wedding. Our daughter was the flower girl.
We arrived home late this afternoon. Daddy and daughter nap while I catch up and offer some thoughts. I will soon have to wake them for dinner.
On the way home today, I was thinking again about how much little things matter. And isn't the seemingly little things, the things we must do on a daily basis and that our lives are made up of, the hardest? For example, I am to love my the members of my family every day in the little things. Suppose that day after day I don't do that. What role do I then have in the destruction of my daughter's and husband's life? If I don't love them on a daily basis, it'll add up to not loving them throughout my life. Instead of offering them life, I offer them death.
Daily love or lack of love adds up.
Now, I am not responsible for what they do with my love--they could reject it. However, I am responsible to God for doing my utmost to love them.
I fall short. Yes, I do. But, I need to beg God for the grace and the strength to love them. Then I have to decide to love them in his grace and strength.
It's not only love though. Things like exercise and eating right either add up for the good or the bad. The little decisions we make every day about whether to eat right or to exercise add up.
Doing our work well or abysmally every day adds up. So does treating others well or harshly.
Daily communing with our Lord or not communing adds up.
I am not saying anything new; I am just reminding myself and whoever happens to glance at these words of the truth of these matters.
How often do we wish to take a vacation from the mundane because it all seems so meaningless?
Yet, it is in loving God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds in the every day details of our lives that makes holy lives--saints.
I think of the lyrics from the song Day by Day:
Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day
O Dear Lord! Have mercy on us sinners! Give us strength to love you in the details of our days. Forgive us for loving ourselves and for loving ease. It's in your name, Jesus, that we pray. Amen.
While there, we visited our friends (who are indeed family). I certainly cannot thank God enough for the role that the body of Christ at Rochester Christian Reformed Church has played, and continues to play, in our life. They are our mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and children.
As we left Rochester, we headed west to Toledo, Ohio to visit my husband's family. We stayed briefly. Just over night, for we were headed northwest to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a wedding. It was beautiful wedding. Our daughter was the flower girl.
We arrived home late this afternoon. Daddy and daughter nap while I catch up and offer some thoughts. I will soon have to wake them for dinner.
On the way home today, I was thinking again about how much little things matter. And isn't the seemingly little things, the things we must do on a daily basis and that our lives are made up of, the hardest? For example, I am to love my the members of my family every day in the little things. Suppose that day after day I don't do that. What role do I then have in the destruction of my daughter's and husband's life? If I don't love them on a daily basis, it'll add up to not loving them throughout my life. Instead of offering them life, I offer them death.
Daily love or lack of love adds up.
Now, I am not responsible for what they do with my love--they could reject it. However, I am responsible to God for doing my utmost to love them.
I fall short. Yes, I do. But, I need to beg God for the grace and the strength to love them. Then I have to decide to love them in his grace and strength.
It's not only love though. Things like exercise and eating right either add up for the good or the bad. The little decisions we make every day about whether to eat right or to exercise add up.
Doing our work well or abysmally every day adds up. So does treating others well or harshly.
Daily communing with our Lord or not communing adds up.
I am not saying anything new; I am just reminding myself and whoever happens to glance at these words of the truth of these matters.
How often do we wish to take a vacation from the mundane because it all seems so meaningless?
Yet, it is in loving God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds in the every day details of our lives that makes holy lives--saints.
I think of the lyrics from the song Day by Day:
Day by day
Day by day
Oh Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day
O Dear Lord! Have mercy on us sinners! Give us strength to love you in the details of our days. Forgive us for loving ourselves and for loving ease. It's in your name, Jesus, that we pray. Amen.
1 comment:
Marlena,
I don't think I've ever told anyone this: but for almost my ENTIRE life (since I was probably about 5), I have sung that song, Day by Day, to myself nearly every night--maybe just a little bit, but if I can't fall asleep right away, it's my way of "counting sheep." I always thought it was kind of silly. But you have affirmed it. The song has been my prayer and comfort since I was a little girl.
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