19 February 2020

Do you have days when everything seems to be going wrong? I know you do. That is life sometimes, but when you have a cold, a barking cough and have no energy – on those days – the world seems to be very overwhelming!

The actual minor irritations that happen to us from time to time teach us about our character. Show us – are we patient, are we kind, are we trusting in God in everything. Are we letting go and letting God? Have I learnt to control my anger in situations that I don’t need to be angry? Do I laugh (and not cry) at circumstances that can be more frustrating and disappointing than a huge calamity? Do I look out for those who need encouragement from me?

This was me. I had planned to get up early and do all these chores. You know, the ones you keep putting off but need to be done. I slept through the alarm after having a terrible night sleep. Actually, no sleep till 6am. Oh, I hate those nights!!

I got out of bed to a big banging at the front door. It was 8.15am and the lawnmower man had arrived, who I had totally forgotten about. Then the booming headache and sore throat started, and I knew I was coming down with something.

I had deadlines to meet in preparing for the Heart Conferences in three states in Australia coming up in June, July and August. The deadline dates were getting closer and closer and I was not prepared. Stress City. I did not need this head cold.

Then I heard some news about an appointment I had been chasing for months and I finally found out that Friday morning is not available ANY week, but this had not been conveyed to me. This was the only day I could go. My emails and phone calls to them were never returned. Finally, after three months going back and forwards with my diary and theirs, they finally tell me NO FRIDAY MORNING. AARGH!!

And then on top of this, I washed one of Bruce’s white shirts with something pink!! I “always” check his pockets. But not this time.

More, what now? Yes!

The final straw was a stupid thing of a squashed pipe for the beach umbrella. Don’t ask. Yes, it’s crazy, but the final straw usually is something stupid, of no importance, as light as a piece of straw(hay).

I burst into tears and rang my eldest daughter Emma. I needed someone to share with, cry with, and feel better. Because in my excellent reasoning in my brain, hiding amongst the fog of fluffy inconsequential things, I knew that life was still ok. I knew that I was crying over ‘spilt milk.’ That this overwhelming feeling was nothing compared to what others have to cope with. 

So, after having a cry with Emma and with God, I looked down at my phone in my hand.

Two emails had come through. Praise reports from a lady in Argentina who I had prayed for months ago and another one from a lady who just recently needed prayers.

Both were acknowledging God working in their lives. One, a miracle of no cancer in her mother, and the other that God was great, had resolved some conflict in her life and was more important than ever.

Oh, how God put my everyday occurrences of my life back into perspective. How Gracious was HE?

Count your blessings, the Spirit said.

Look at how I had someone to turn to, my daughter and my God, when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Many people don’t have anyone. Many don’t have that relationship with God yet so that they can openly share with Him.

Through these emails, He also reminded me of the importance of prayer. The importance of encouraging each other in our lives. But also, that we need to work out what is of the MOST importance.

I felt silly. The stuff I had been stressing about was not worth it. Oh, I have a long way to go to sainthood.

But at least I’m along the way. That’s what matters. That I am going in the right direction. Jesus is showing me more and more areas in my life that need working on through the Holy Spirit. Areas, things that are of WORTH and those things that are NOT. 

That night, my husband, Bruce, accidentally broke a lamp that I really liked. I felt a little disappointment but said “ah well, that’s not worth getting upset about,” to myself, and calmly told him – “that’s ok.”

What came to mind was the story in scripture where James and John ask Jesus when in His Kingdom to sit one at his right and one at his left side. Oh, what audacity! To be honoured so much to sit right beside Jesus. They thought they were of that WORTH?? That importance.

The thing is WE are of that WORTH to Jesus. He invites ALL to come and sit at his banquet table. Even now here we on earth are invited to share the Eucharistic meal with Him and receive Him.

But the honour of who sits with Him to the right or the left hand is God’s decision.

Jesus’ reply shows us where our hearts should be, what our attitude should be. Not that we have the best seat in the house, but that we serve others and give them the best seat.

In Mark 10:43-45 it says, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.”

So, I need to work out in my Life what is of WORTH? Of getting stressed about. Worried about? I’m learning not to be so overwhelmed by the little things but to be more concerned about the bigger things.

That we can “serve” people in our everyday lives. Just yesterday, I helped an elderly man put petrol in his car. Not a difficult task for me, but for him, who was moving oh so slowly and whose hands were shaking, I was gold. I had come at just the right time for him.

How long had he been waiting for help before I had come along? Reflecting back, do you know that God sent that man for me. I felt like the “ant’s pants” afterwards. I was talking to God about this man and asking God to continue to help him. My thoughts had come off my problems and I started asking, praising God to help others, especially this gentleman that I had met.

I reflected upon the need to be more outward-looking and loving towards others. This can only come from God and my relationship with Him.

I can only pour out what is already within me. I can only speak God’s kind, loving words to someone if they are already in me and am open to the Holy Spirit using me.

So, by the end of the day, I thought differently. Less about my head cold, runny nose, pounding head and more about how I can make myself available to pray more, serve others more and so serve God more.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Where do you need to see what is important in your life right now? Being a woman? Wife? Mother? Worker? Helper? Friend?

Where can God show you the people and situations you can serve in the circumstances you are in right now?