Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.
Refrain:
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right
http://www2.gol.com/users/quakers/simple_gifts.htm
Last night I awoke to my wife screaming because of a cockroach. I overreacted and treated her poorly. This display left me wide awake and I began to think about my wretched life. My priorities have fallen completely backwards! They have been:
(1) Work and Projects
(2) Myself
(3) My family
(4) God
How did this happen? I was trying to serve God and others, but made my focus on the things, not the relationship. My "walking with the Spirit" became a task, items on a checklist. Same goes with the relationship with my wife...Lord help and forgive me.
As I lay in bed, I pictured Vicente who was cleaning the garbage cans at work the other day, scooping garbage out with his bare hands. Now granted it's not part of his job and there are gloves, the image and idea brought me to tears. This man has received a vision from God to have an orphanage, take care of children, etc. He has a group committed to funding the construction of his new house which will one day become the orphanage. Yet no one will come over to build. Why, I ask. In tears, I beg God to send someone to build. I would if I knew how, but my hands have not been gifted in this area.
Life has no easy answers, and the concept of considering it pure joy when I face trials still baffles me at times.
About Me
- Peter Schott
- Kulm, ND, United States
- I'm a quirky, self-conscious creative sort that likes to try new things. I am married (Julie) and have a wonderful daughter (Lara). Together we struggle to live in God's grace with each other and those around us.
1 comment:
I am finally at a computer where I can access your Blog. How great to see that God continues to work and grow you and me too! He needs to remind us daily where our priorities lie......sometimes there is more personal satisfaction in 'work' and the accolades we receive there compared with the mundane, sometimes sacrifical routine of family life. I remember that feeling more at the time we had two kids than at the stage of life you are in.....but it truly seems to be our human nature to put more into our careers than our family life or devotional life. May God continue to give you the gentle nudges that remind you of where he wants you to be.
I will pass on the need for Vicente's orphanage....can you send a description of what needs to be built and how many people or how much time would be needed to build.......just a little more info in an email that I could forward to a couple of churches.
Love to you and Julie,
Joy and Brian
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