I Will Be Back Soon

For those of you wondering where I went, this week has been full of many expected and unexpected events for which recovery will take a little time. I'll be back soon however with whatever adventures God leads me on next. He has given me much food for thought which I must digest in order to get my feet back on the ground. Until then, look for the rays of sunshine in your life each day. They are there, it's just that we need to look for them sometimes.

I’m Not Asking You to Trust Me

February 6, 2012

    

I read a profound statement this morning that has stuck with me for several hours. I’d like you to ponder it with me:

“I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m teaching you to trust me. Take the next step.”  When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent

This last week has dealt me some hard life events. The first phrase that popped into my head recently was from a very close and trusted friend who said, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. “ We’ve all heard the advice and its good advice, except when life gives you rotten lemons. No amount of sugar and water is going to make good lemonade from rotten lemons. I think you have to closely examine the source of your lemons. Who handed you the lemons, is it YOUR lemon to deal with, is it an important lemon in the first place… Do you see where I’m going with this?

Once you have decided that it is indeed your lemon and it does need to be made into lemonade, what are you going to do with it? I’ve had to look hard at my life the last few months even years and decide how to react and handle many ugly, unfair truths. I’ve come to the conclusion I can’t do it all alone. We have all been taught to have the stiff upper lip, be self-reliant, stand on our own two feet… but our society in general has lost a treasure in doing so over the years. I remember as a child people gathering to help one another out and unexpectedly going to the neighbor’s house for “coffee”. I know now that the adults were there to support one another when there was a problem while the kids played outside.

What happened to that community who gathered around each other? Do we have to lose it just because we live in larger cities or communities away from our family? I don’t think so. I think we all need community to surround us when life gets rough. It doesn’t take a village to raise a child; it takes a PARENT surrounded by other adults for support, comfort, and advice.

The problem for me that pops up in turning to others for help is trust. Many of us, me included, have been so hurt and betrayed by others we don’t trust anyone but ourselves. The problem is when the issue that confronts you is larger then what you can handle and is totally out of our control. You know the ones; family, legal, work, personal. Things seem to be spinning far out of control and you need something or someone to hold onto. 

I’m learning to trust. I’m learning to trust God and the wonderful friends He’s put into my life for support. I’m also learning to ASK for help and support when I need it. Hard lessons but I’ll trust God to lead me and take the next step scary as it may be.