– Monday Muse –
Dear One, when I left for a walk, it was nearing nightfall, and the temperature was dropping. It would likely get below freezing before I returned.
After reaching the furthest point, and heading back toward home, I noticed that my fingers were getting cold. I had better start wearing my mittens instead of these gloves. If my fingers were in mittens they would be together and could keep each other warm. Right now they are separated and suffering. They need one another. I know it sounds silly to think of my fingers as I was, but I was.
From those thoughts, I immediately thought of how that is true for our church families. We need each other to keep us from suffering alone, and from getting cold-hearted and stiff-necked. Recently, one woman who truly does have a difficult path to tread, quit coming to church. I heard that she was especially down, and that during such times, she often separated herself from the church. I remembered a conversation I had had with her a year or two earlier. At that time, she was full of expectation for the spiritual growth of her daughter and grandchild. She was bright eyed and smiling. Together, we basked in her joy and hope.
After not seeing the woman in church for quite awhile, I called her home but got no answer. I tried again, and left a message of my concern, and requested that she call me back. The call never came. I learned that during such times she also ignores incoming calls.
Burr, my fingers were not happy. I pulled them up out of the finger sleeves and bunched them together in the palms of my gloves. Warmth immediately comforted the stiffened fingers. Ahhh, that feels so much better.
Heh, heh, and where did that thought take me? You’ve got it…to God. It reminded me of how quickly I can get cold and stiff necked about most anything when I do not take time to be in fellowship with God. Thankfully, as quickly as I do draw near to Him, much like the uniting of my fingers, I am comforted.
I found it interesting that while I was considering this essay, I got an early morning text from a friend from church. “Good morning Susanne, I was wondering if you could chat. I’d love to have you for coffee if you want to come by early. Call me if you can.”
What? Take time for coffee the week before Christmas? I know she is on her way out of state to be with family. She must have a deep concern, I’ll just have to take the time for her.
So we met. It turned out that she did not have a concern. She thought that I did. I left my dear friend’s home thinking, that is how the Body of Christ is meant to work. My friend, thinking I was in need, sacrificed her time. Me thinking that she was in need, sacrificed my time, and, in doing so, we were both richly blessed…better together.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1
Blessings for another week,
Susanne
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