Editor: Richard (Dick) Innes
Published by: ACTS International
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Vol. 15 – No. 2513 June 22, 2013
Thought for the week: "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." – Jesus Christ
While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign that read, "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step on exhaust."
It was Friday, the morning I was due to visit the geriatric ward of a large regional hospital. I was anxious to get it over with as quickly as possible, as I found it difficult to talk with these elderly people.
There was the nurses' aide at the hospital—a very practical person. She was middle-aged, overworked, a gruff, no-nonsense type of person. Yet, as she plodded around that ward on her tired feet, trembling arms were held out to her, faces turned towards her warm, homely face, quivering voices called her by name.
And she, knowing the heart hunger and the loneliness of the old, was lavish with her touch. She patted a cheek, pushed hair from a forehead or, sensing a really special need, gave a hug.
As I watched her, I began to appreciate the real compassion and love that that nurse's aide had for her charges. If it works for her, I thought, perhaps it would work for me. Feeling a little foolish, I moved around the circle of old folk, greeting each one and shaking hands. The response shook me to the soul. Eyes that I thought as dull as marbles, kindled; wrinkled hands returned my clasp.
As I was leaving, walking past one of the private rooms, I noticed an old German lady sitting in a chair crooning to herself in the language of her childhood. On impulse, I went into her room. Her hand, brown flecked and dry as a leaf, lay upon the blanket. I touched it. It was cold. She looked up in recognition with eyes I'd always thought of as vacant, and in response to the deepest need in all of us, she said, "I'm lonely. Please hold my hand."
"Dear Father God, when I am lonely,
help me to reach out.
When I am not,
help me to remember those who are.
When one phase of our life comes to an end, don't hang on. Cut the cord and go forward to the next wonderful adventure in life's journey. Don't look back ... no regrets, no guilt, and no remorse. We can never go back and change a thing. The real joy is to look forward to new challenges, new goals, new dreams and new visions. We go on with our wisdom, knowledge and excitement, and we take the risk of leaving the past behind. Disconnect from the old and blast off to your new future.
Slow me down Lord
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace
with a vision of the eternal march of time.
Give me amid the confusion of the day,
the calmness of the eternal hills.
Break the tension of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of the singing streams
that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking MINUTE vacations,
Of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend,
to pat a dog,
to read a few lines of a good book.
Slow me down, Lord,
and inspire me to send my roots
deep into the soil of life's enduring values,
that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
When Teresa, a widow with four young children, saw a notice that members of her church would gather to deliver presents and food to a needy family, she took $10 out of her savings jar and bought the ingredients to make three dozen cookies. She got to the church parking lot just in time to join a convoy going to the home that was to receive the congregation's help.
The route was familiar, and she was stunned when the cars pulled up in front of her house. When the pastor saw her, he said, "We never expected you to join us, Teresa. We know it's been a great struggle since your husband died, and we all wanted to support you."
Although she was uncomfortable being thought of as the object of charity, Teresa didn't want to embarrass anyone so she cheerfully said, "Well, at least I can share these cookies with our friends."
This parable teaches us that no one is too poor to [help in some way] and that true charity is rooted in love and compassion. Poverty of spirit is worse than economic distress. Teresa's story reminds us that very few of us give as much as we could and should.
My friend, Larry Rosen, president of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, introduced me to the concept of "sacrificial giving"—giving in abundance to a point where one must sacrifice something one desires.
You can start out easy. Take whatever amount you were thinking of giving to charity, then double it. If that's too much, increase it by 50 percent instead. The idea is to stretch yourself. It will mean a lot to those you help, but it will mean as much to your heart.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."1
"The glossy, coffee-table book was grandly titled, The Greatest Weddings of All Time. It featured media stars like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda."
As Mark Earley of BreakPoint said, "Sadly, most relationships like those don't last very long—which is probably why the book celebrates great weddings instead of great marriages."2
Like far too many marriages, partners have little or no idea what qualities to look for in a spouse—and even more importantly—what qualities they need to have in order to find a suitable partner and to make a happy marriage.
I've taught in divorce and recovery groups for a number of years and, over and over, I hear the same question asked: "How can I find a good marriage partner?"
My answer is always the same, "By being a good marriage partner."
The reality is that like attracts like. If I want to find a mature partner, I need to be a mature person. If I want to have a happy marriage, I need to be a happy person. Only happy, mature people have happy, mature marriages.
And why should I expect God to give me a great partner if I'm an immature, self-centered, control freak or whatever? Trust me, He won't.
Before getting married, or to help save a poor marriage, or to make an even good marriage better, learn what it takes to make it happen. Read good books on marriage relationships.* Attend relationships and growth seminars. Join a recovery and/or growth group. Learn how to communicate effectively. Good relationships don't happen by chance. They take knowledge, understanding, commitment, and hard work on the part of each partner so that they become healthy and mature (spiritually and emotionally) and are thus able to build a healthy and lasting marriage.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to grow in faith and love and every grace so that I will become a mature and whole person and thereby be able to build mature, loving and lasting relationships. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Ephesians 4:2 (NIV).
2. Mark Earley, BreakPoint, June 28, 2005.
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