Last week was one of those weeks where I had to consciously practice the discipline found in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The things that are right and true and pure and lovely weren’t exactly at the forefront of the news or social media or conversation last week. Everywhere I turned there was hurt and hatred and harm.
Bombings at the Boston Marathon and a city-wide manhunt.
One of my children encountered a situation at school that shredded my Mama heart. And again, all things ugly seemed to rule the day.
As if that wasn’t enough, the rivers in my town flooded, shutting down businesses and necessitating homeowners to evacuate.
So many things overflowing and out of control. With each situation I realized how small I am, how incapable I am of helping the hurting, how challenging it is to not drown in a sea of hurt.
Sunday evening, my heart said, “Enough!”
It was hard to see the right in the midst of all the hate and hurt.
Just because the clouds block the sunshine, it doesn’t mean that the sun isn’t shining. It’s just temporarily out of view.
And so I started a list of all that is right and pure and good and lovely.
Runners who crossed the finish line and kept running to give blood. Spectators who comforted each other and gave the wounded a helping hand.
A teacher who immediately addressed the concerns of my hurting little one. A principal who did everything possible to find the source of my child’s hurt, address it, and help my student regain a bit of confidence and courage.
Hundreds of volunteers in my small town who gave up their Friday and Saturday to fill sand bags. So many people showed up to help that city hall told me, “We’ll put your name on a list, but we have more than enough help for now.”
So much good. So much that is right. So many people reaching out to each other and sharing love and compassion.
In the mist of hurt and hatred and pain, how do you focus on what is right? What’s right in your world this week? Let’s start a list of all that is good and encourage each other today!
Every blessing you pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord,
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be your glorious name.
That is one of my favorite songs, Pam! Thanks for reminding us!!
Mine too!
Lately, I’ve been consciously practicing 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in ALL circumstances. Not just the good ones, but all. This is not easy. It is really difficult when you are hurting to say thank you- and mean it. To truly understand that God has something better for you than whatever it is that is upsetting you. I’m still not okay. I’m still hurting. Things that are out of my control are still scary – but God has me. And what he’s got for me is far better than I could imagine for myself. And THAT – well, that’s just something that I am ridiculously grateful for.
Oh Susan, that is such a challenging discipline to practice. It is so not easy! That verse has been something that I have come back to in the darkness over and over. What you said about how what He’s got for you is far better than you could imagine reminds me of the statement in Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..” I love that passage. Much love to you tonight!
I have been trying to focus on the positive. Ugh. It’s so hard! It seems like I have had a dark cloud over my head lately. So much heartache all around me. 🙁
Hang on to the hope we have, Jen! A prayer for you tonight… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:16-19)
I love the look of your new site. BEAUTIFUL and REFRESHING, just like you AR! 🙂