Love Instead of Struggle

One of my favorite thing about my church is the women. I love how they long to come together to support and love on each other. Today was another perfect example of how the women in my church are spreading the love of Christ. The women's ministry hosted a generational event this morning, over 100 women from the ages to 13 to 99 came to listen to 5 different women talk about their life. 5 women were the focus but of course we all got to share our memories.

 I sat there listening to the first lady talk. She talked about her time as a teenager, today she is 89 years old. One of my favorite memories she talked about was how much people had to ration in her day. One example she shared was shoes. The focus was on the Vietnam War and less on the citizens that were still living in the country, the shoe makers were so focused on making boots for the soldiers, the people at home were limited to 3 pairs of shoes a year. I thought to myself how easily I can access 3 pairs of shoes every other week if I really wanted to. This really made me think of the sacrifices that everyone had to make back in those days. In today's war, soldiers are leaving all the time, this doesn't really effect anyone anymore unless you are a loved one or friend of that soldier. The whole country no longer bans together to help and support the soldiers and their loved ones. Instead today, our veterans are neglected and the death's of the soldiers are no longer mentioned in the news.

One thing that was similar among all the generations was the need for friendship. The need to be accepted and not be an outcast was there in each of the ladies that shared their stories.  How many times in the bible does Jesus instruct and demonstrate showing love to those who were outcasts in their time: the blind, the crippled, the leper, and the prostitute, just to name a few. One lady shared with me how, as a teenager, she would attend her school dances and if she saw a boy sitting on the side, then she would go to him and ask him to dance. She did this because she knew how it felt to be on the sidelines and didn't like how it felt. So she would go to them and make them feel included as well. Imagine the impact that she had on those young boys as they developed into men who would be leading households years later. She may have given them the confidence they never would have developed to run their household.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. and God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 

 I wish as a child my heart would have been filled with more compassion to others then focusing so much on myself. I was so focused on trying to grow up and fit in with the people around me that I don't look to my left or to my right to the person beside me that was struggling and may have needed my help. So my thoughts of today where to really think about what my own struggles where. I think its easy to give a lot of weight and energy to the things that are counted as struggles. But in Corinthians, we are told that each struggle has already been conquered by another person. I am not the first one to deal with whatever struggle I am currently going through. I think this is important to remember because I may be so focused on my little struggle that I'm not able to see the need that I can fulfill for God through the person that is to my right or to my left.

 Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Introduction

Hello, my name is Carolyn. I have been married for about a year and a half. I have a beautiful 4 month old little girl. Her name is Edith. She has brought so much joy to my heart and has really helped me to see just how much God loves His children. I have been a Christian for 3 years now and I have witnessed so many blessings in my life and seen the blessings in others' around me. I came to Christ while I was going through a really tough time in my life, as do many people. I was in an unhealthy relationship and like many young girls I was miserable with myself. I disliked my appearance and was always fighting to try and look great in other people's eyes. I would do anything to please others. I still felt alone, drained, and unappreciated. Once I turned my life to Jesus, those chains quickly started falling off. It was replaced with joy and love for others instead of myself.  God never let go of me. He put many things in my life that would draw me closer to him. I truly believe that God will allow people to hit the lowest point of their life and reach down and grab them. Only then will they never turn away from the love that only he can offer.