Don't Protect Me

 

Life has been hectic for us lately, even a bit chaotic. Our family has been going through some trials. Some of them are big and lots of people know about them. Some are normal things that everyone faces. Some are things only those involved know about. Some days it is overwhelming.

But life goes on, for us, for you, too.

We all have struggles in life. I know others besides me are going through things. Please don’t decide to not share with me. Please don’t try to protect me. Please don’t decide for me what I can handle. Do not choose to not talk to me or share with me what’s going on in your life because it would be too much for me. Even if I cannot bring you a meal today, I can pray for you. I care about my friends, family, and others. Let me care, let me help if I can.

When you choose not to share with me, then I feel I cannot share with you either. If we hold ourselves apart in order to not burden each other, we lose our vulnerability. We lose that sense of true friendship where we can talk about life freely.

When we don’t share, we also lose our chance to talk about how God is there in the midst of trials. We miss hearing about His faithfulness, how He is helping us through it, strengthening us. No matter how much I am hurting, I have stories of God’s goodness to tell. Let me tell you. Tell me yours so I can be encouraged.

If you don’t share with me about your life, good or bad, I feel alone. I feel like maybe I can’t handle things. I feel like I have to just handle it alone because others are handling their lives. But God made us for community. I need you in my life. We are stronger together.

When you do share with me, it distracts me from my own troubles. It gives me something else to think about. It changes my prayer focus outward to someone else. It keeps me from getting stuck in my own worries. It helps me to not center just on what I am feeling. It is good for me to refocus on other things.

I need you to be my friend, in the hard times and the good times. I want to share in your joy. I want to share your burdens. I want to encourage you. I want you to encourage me. We may not solve each other’s problems, but we can listen to each other. We can be there for each other. We can pray for each other. We can help each other. This can happen, but only if we choose to be vulnerable, to be real with each other. Don’t protect me; join me in life.

Returning to Church

 

Psalm 122:1 says “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

I went back to church last Sunday for the first time in a year. I was able to take communion and worship with my church family. I got to worship along side of my newly married (6 months) daughter and her husband for the first time. My granddaughter sat in our pew.

I cried through the first songs as I was overcome with emotion. I had missed this. I had missed it so much.

Sunday is the first day of the week. Going to church was how I ordered my week. I went to church and filled my heart, mind, and soul with worship, fellowship, seeing needs, praying, reaching out to others. A whole year without that emptied me. I still read my Bible. I watched church virtually. I prayed. I had people in my home. I wasn’t totally alone, but something was missing.

Hebrews 10: 24- 25 says “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Scripture encourages us to meet together. It is the time we can spur one another on towards love and good deeds. It is where we encourage one another. When I went into church, someone said my name. Another person asked if they could give me a hug. Someone welcomed me and was glad to see me. A small child smiled and wiggled her fingers in a hello. My pew was full even though my husband and I came alone. It was full of young people I love. My pew was full, but my heart overflowed. It was like coming home after a long time away. I felt a part of something bigger than what I had at home. I belonged somewhere.

We need each other. We need each other especially when we are going through uncertain times. The body of Christ is called to reach out to others, to be there for each other. Sometimes we need to take risks. Often we need to go against the culture. We need to be steadfast and stand firm. We need to know who we are and whose we are. We do not need to live in fear. We need to be welcoming to all. We need to let people come as they are. We need to love those who don’t follow all the rules. Jesus did.

Review of Facing the Dawn

Facing the Dawn

Facing the Dawn will open your eyes and heart to what people experience during great loss. It allows you to feel deep grief that cannot usually be understood. You participate with the characters in their suffering. But you also get to experience true friendship and healing and hope. There is redemption in the love shown and the turning to faith. 

Mara has many struggles throughout the book, just as we all do. As she faces each of them, somewhere you will relate. You will feel her pain. You will also feel the victory in overcoming the worst life can throw at you. 

Immerse yourself in this book and learn about life and grief and hope. Find out what treasures life has even in its difficulties.