Category: update

“For some of us, relinquishing control and sacrificing our own agendas or plans is difficult. …” So the challenge for today is to put someone else’s needs/desires head of your own.

OK, my first reaction is – I do this many times a day! This is how my mother lived, what I and my sisters were taught as little girls, it is especially true if you want to be “a good wife” (so I was taught) – that others’ needs were more important than our own.

My job as administrative assistant is based on fulfilling others’ needs. So much of my job involves stopping whatever task I was working on to help someone else. I am not complaining, I love my job (most of the time). Just sayin’ playing second fiddle is something I do all the time.

I think for many of us women learning to give some priority to our own needs is what we need to practice.

With today’s ice storm the church was even quieter than yesterday! And I think I had only 2 phone calls to interrupt what I was doing.

Chocolate = love, right? Today’s challenge is to give away chocolate.

I had to pick up a prescription at the drugstore, so also got a box of chocolate covered almonds, part proceeds going to cancer research or some such (bonus). My resolve was to give them to anyone coming into my office today. Well, one pastor is away on vacation, one pastor was sick, the third only worked the morning, which meant a very quiet day for me. Nonetheless, half the time I forgot to offer the chocolate to the few people who did come in. I’m just not used to doing that. I guess I need to practice generosity.

Only one level of the challenge today – to show someone love. However, we are challenged to think about how the other feels love, to give in ways that we may be less comfortable with.

This morning I went to visit my mother living in long-term care. She slept for most of the time I was there. But we did, at the prompting of the nursing staff, take a walk up the hall. When she was back in bed I told her I loved her. She answered:
“It is had to accept love when you can’t love yourself.”

I know this has been a particular struggle for Mom for a long time.

I asked, “Why can’t you love yourself?”
Her reply, “Because I’m so useless.”

Why do we believe we can only be loved if we can do, only when we are productive? Why is it so hard to believe we are really truly loved? Yes, my mother is “useless,” in that she can no longer make meals for her family, help in their gardens, babysit the little ones, or any of those myriad of things she used to do. She can no longer take care of her own personal needs without help. She often can’t remember her children’s names, much less her grandchildren, and the great-grands, well, forget that. But she’s my mother, and I remember all those things she did for me all the years my life. I know I am who I am because I am hers, because she loved me. She doesn’t need to do anything more to be loved. She is truly and well loved right now! I pray she may be able to feel and accept all the love so many people have for her.

And I want to learn this lesson for myself, that my lovableness is attached not to my doing, but to my being.

 

“Our words have immense capacity for good…” Today’s challenge is to use our words wisely. And this from Ann Voscamp’s Lent devotions:

Today’s challenge is to prayer – specifically to pray for those in your social media “circles” or newsfeeds, or even in newspaper articles. Some years ago I made prayer cards for my Mom, with pictures and names of her family on each card. They are still in her drawer, though I don’t think she ever looks at them any more. Today I will prayer for all those who post in Facebook.