I always see a lot of posts on FB of people sharing how blessed they are, and most of the time the term blessed is in reference to new houses or cars or jobs or money... But in the famous words of Inigo Montoya, you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. A couple weeks ago a very good friend of mine was talking about this to me and he said, you know, Ive been reading my Bible where Jesus talked about those who were truly blessed, and He didnt really mention all these things people talk about these days when they say they are blessed. Jesus said, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who are persecuted and the poor in spirit, etc... And thats not really what people in our day would call being blessed. But I say that to say this. In the past few months I think I have come to understand what it really means to be blessed, and I think that I may be more blessed than all if you. For several months now, I have watched my father deteriorate fairly rapidly from the effects of severe degenerative back problems and advanced Parkinsons among other things, and as I have watched helplessly as this once active, strong, healthy man is robbed of his dignity his health and his hope, I have been forced to do more than just talk about placing my burdens in Gods hands, but I have been left with no other option than to truly put my father in my heavenly Fathers hands. During this same time, my mother has also been suffering greatly with several trips to the hospital to try to diagnose what has been causing her to get weak and extremely ill and decline fairly rapidly as well... This past week she fell and broke her collar bone, she has lost a lot of strength and overall is not well most of the time, and if my sister had not basically given up her life and moved back home to take care of her I really dont know what wed do... But as I have watched this woman who raised me who had the fiercest faith in God of anyone I have ever known, never once waiver in her faith, even in the darkest time of her own suffering and watching her watch her husband of 55 years suffer even worse... I have come to actually SEE faith and hope with my own two eyes and not just know about it as some superficial thought... Also during this same time, my wife has suffered from a severe intestinal problem that has almost brought our lives to a screeching halt, and has gotten to the point where it is seriously threatening her overall health ( she wont like me sharing this, but without going into great detail, she is pretty sick right now). And as I have watched the woman I love more than any person on the face of this earth struggle to not only have a normal day once in a while, but continue to help and minister to others, I am humbled to see what real love in action, the kind that puts others before itself looks like... There is actually more, but this is too long for most people already. So, I am not posting this tonight to evoke sympathy (although prayers are greatly appreciated), but just to say that, in this day of calling ourselves blessed on the basis of temporal, earthly pleasures, I would just like to say that because of what God has allowed to occur in my life and my family as of late, I am truly coming to understand that I am in control of nothing and He is in control of everything. Our times are in His hands and not our own. When I am weak then His strength is indeed sufficient for me. When it is the darkest His light does indeed shine the brightest. And when I admit that I can do nothing, then I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... With all sincerity of heart, I would just like to say, thank you Lord, I am truly blessed.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:53:28 +0000
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