John 12:24-25 Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in you love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
I was poking around at my devotional time this morning, reading this scripture, and because my boys weren't out the door yet (and I can't get any real thinking done when they are humming around getting ready to leave!) I was also checking out Facebook and came across this article. At first I just scrolled by, because really?, who has time to read every article that their friends post? not me. So, I just kept going checking for pictures and real-life updates from my friends and family.
But, then, I saw it again. Shared from another source this time. and I realized that the title irked me. why? . . . .hmmmm. . . . .
So, I decided to read it & find out if this title was truly representative of the heart of the whole - and try to figure out why an article title was giving me emotional feelings. I mean, I do get emotional about everything, but I think I should be able to draw the the line somewhere, right?
I debated not sharing this because my thoughts might very well irk some people, too. . . . So, here goes.
Truly, I think I can empathize and understand the heart from where this article is coming from. Truly. I want dear, deep, close friends, and am working towards making myself a better one so that I have more. I believe that God asks us to cultivate a deep heart for our friends.
But, I don't feel that this is something that I am entitled to. Especially as a Christian, and I worry that in this thinking, Christians are allowing our culture to define how we look at our relationships.
More and more I see this attitude. This attitude that says, 'It's about me. And, really, if it doesn't fit into how I want it to be, then I don't have time for it.' and while I initially agree with this in my flesh, when I step back and view it through the lens of Christ, I am broken that my heart would define my own will so thoughtlessly.
I know there have been moments of my life where I have been allowed to intentionally work on deep relationships, to share the deepest truths of my life and know that I am truly being heard and accepted. There are friends who allow me to be raw and real and even ugly in my attitudes - and they still love me! And, the number of people that I feel I can do that with has grown over the years. It is a blessing. It is a gift.
Colossians 1:19-20 msg "So spacious is HE (God), so room, that everything in God finds its proper place him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe - people and things, animals and atoms - get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of this death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
While my human heart wants to be understood and have those deep relationships, THIS is the heart of my Father. Making room and space for everything!!! My amazing God included me when he sent his son to die on the cross. But, that wasn't just for me! It was for all of mankind. It was for those who can't go deep right now, it was for those who don't know how. It was for those who are scared and so they hold back in relationships. It is for those who have been hurt over and over again and so they have decided they can only give one version of their hearts to people, even if that might appear as though they are fake.
And, He MADE time for all of them.
Mark 10:29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property {my addition: or friends}, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
when I consider the moments I have tried to define and classify who I have time for, who I will allow to be my friend, I am broken. What beautiful, deep friendships have I missed out on? What beautiful, deep women have I possibly allowed to stay hidden because of my need for own definition of deep friendship?
If you read that article and agreed, that's okay. If you shared it, I understand, and there is no judgement. In fact, there is a place where those desires are very real and special to God. He knows our hearts and love us! He wants strong relationships among His daughters!! This is simply an invitation to look at it through the view of the cross. Through the view of trusting in a Good Father who asks us to lay down our lives for others.
I believe that as Christian sisters we need to push back on the culture of this world especially in the areas of our relationships. We are called to live like Christ. simply.
So beautifully and gracefully, God does the fitting and He will provide for my heart. Over and above what I can ever do on my own.
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