One day last summer, I had just reached the corner of my street and turned east when I heard a voice behind me call out, "Where's your little dogie?"
I turned to find a woman in an SUV stopped at the stop sign. "I took pity on her because of the heat," I explained.
She then shared with me that her family regularly took note of my faithfulness in walking my dog. I thanked her and headed on my way somewhat embarrassed and somewhat amused by my "fame."
"I'm known for walking my dog, Lord." I complained with a sheepish grin. "Of all the stupid things." Why couldn't I be known for something - well, something spiritually "sexy" or impressive: being a prayer warrior, leading thousands to Christ, prophesying, etc.? No, I am known for walking my dog. It just seemed so silly.
As I fussed, it came to mind that some people are known for making a really good pie. I know people who are known for giving greeting cards. Some people are even known to be what is called a "pew warmer." What Paul said about different people having different gifts began to take on a deeper meaning. My perspective on what he went on to say about there being a better way: love also began to change. When I walk my dog, I'm loving my dog because I'm doing something that is good for her. I'm loving myself because I'm also doing something good for myself. I'm loving God because I regularly spend time talking to Him or singing praises to Him (in my head with a full orchestral background and sometimes in harmony. )
What I hadn't considered was that I am also loving you (my audience) because it is on those walks, during those discussions with God, that I gain the insights that I share. Likewise, I am loving anyone who sees me walk my dog because my faithfulness in doing so is an encouragement (or an admonishment) to them to walk their dogs, or themselves - and thereby love in that small way.
When we are in heaven, I have to wonder if we will find that there are more people who are known for, and commended for, sending cards, or arranging silk flowers, or always bringing a tasty casserole, or making cookies or walking their dogs, than there are for prophesying, or leading thousands to Christ, or being a prayer warrior.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
It's Tough Being A Woman
I've recently begun a Bible study on the book of Esther entitled, "It's Tough Being A Woman." No doubt, you've heard the jokes, or half-jokes:
* Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels....
* A woman has to do twice as much twice as well for half the pay to be considered half as good as a man.
* God gave women the tough job because He knew men couldn't handle it.
* "...the predicted annual salary of a stay at home mom, if paid out, would be $138,095. Working moms are valued at $85,939, in addition to the mother's 'professional' salary." (http://www.taxgirl.com/the-value-of-a-mother/) Makes one almost want to apply for the position...almost.
It doesn't help that others (and we) have high expectations of us. In Proverbs 31:10, we are asked, "An excellent wife, who can find?" and we're told "Her worth is far above jewels." The writer lists an imposing set of characteristics of this excellent wife. Have you ever tried to live up to his standards, even in a modernized version?
When it gets tough to be a woman, it may help to remember that it is when coal is put under great pressure that it becomes a diamond. Not all coal becomes a diamond It's only the coal that has been transformed by enormous pressure that becomes diamond. It's the same for us. We can be transformed by the pressures of our lives and become an excellent woman whose worth is far above jewels, a princess of the royal court of our Lord; or those pressures can fail to transform us and we remain coal.
After all that pressure, diamonds in their natural state aren't the gems that one finds in a jewelry store. They need to be cut to remove flaws, shaped, buffed and polished. It may be tough to be a woman, but when we've been transformed (Romans 12:1-2), when the flaws have been removed and we've been shaped (conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29)) and buffed and polished, then we are fit to adorn His royal crown.
* Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels....
* A woman has to do twice as much twice as well for half the pay to be considered half as good as a man.
* God gave women the tough job because He knew men couldn't handle it.
* "...the predicted annual salary of a stay at home mom, if paid out, would be $138,095. Working moms are valued at $85,939, in addition to the mother's 'professional' salary." (http://www.taxgirl.com/the-value-of-a-mother/) Makes one almost want to apply for the position...almost.
It doesn't help that others (and we) have high expectations of us. In Proverbs 31:10, we are asked, "An excellent wife, who can find?" and we're told "Her worth is far above jewels." The writer lists an imposing set of characteristics of this excellent wife. Have you ever tried to live up to his standards, even in a modernized version?
When it gets tough to be a woman, it may help to remember that it is when coal is put under great pressure that it becomes a diamond. Not all coal becomes a diamond It's only the coal that has been transformed by enormous pressure that becomes diamond. It's the same for us. We can be transformed by the pressures of our lives and become an excellent woman whose worth is far above jewels, a princess of the royal court of our Lord; or those pressures can fail to transform us and we remain coal.
After all that pressure, diamonds in their natural state aren't the gems that one finds in a jewelry store. They need to be cut to remove flaws, shaped, buffed and polished. It may be tough to be a woman, but when we've been transformed (Romans 12:1-2), when the flaws have been removed and we've been shaped (conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29)) and buffed and polished, then we are fit to adorn His royal crown.
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