Becoming Independent

Becoming Independent…..

It seems with each of the major holidays, it causes me to reflect on what they are all about and what they mean.  Is there really any significance?  Am I reading too much into the holidays?   A lot has to do on how we were raised.  Many holidays have great meaning and others may not.

 

By nature, some of us are independent and some are not.  We are either followers or leaders.  It seems it is just who we are - neither is good or bad.   Some of it is a learned behavior based on our upbringing.  Some is based on events that have happened in our lives.   We all seem to go through highs and lows in our lives.  Many times we become who we are by the way we react to these events. 

However, it does seem if we have a lot of things going on in our lives that are negative. It is easy to fall into the category of being let down with no idea of how to crawl out of the lows of our life.   Many people do not have someone in their life to help them through the bad times.  Others believe that God will take care of all the bad and turn it into good.  Often times He does, but it isn’t necessarily in our timing.  I think of Mary and Martha who were so sad that their brother Lazarus had died.  Martha said to Jesus if He had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died.  John 11:35 reads: Jesus wept.  Jesus also loved Lazarus as did Mary and Martha.  However, Jesus was able to raise up Lazarus.   Jesus has the ability to heal all, but not all will be healed here on earth.  Our faith in Christ is that one day we will all be whole again – it may happen on earth or in heaven.  Jesus morns with us as we are hurting.  He understands us, but he sees the whole picture.

How have you reacted to your new independence?    We were so used to doing things as a couple and now we are making all of the decisions.   Has that been an easy thing for you?   If you have always been independent, it probably has been pretty easy. If it has been something you have had to work at, you may be finding that you are struggling making that decision.  It takes a while to get used to it.  When it comes to a big decision, often you will need to get a second opinion and that is a good thing. 

Please remember, there will always be times for a second opinion.  As you begin comfortable with your decision, you will become more comfortable with yourself and more independent. 

We will never forget our loves ones who have gone before us.  However, our hope is in Christ.   Our hope reads:  1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 19:  ¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

So often it is easy to question others on their journey even if our journeys are similar.  If we are compassionate towards someone who is going through something we have, we understand what they are going through and feel their pain.  If we have pity on them, it’s not the same.  Pity is often a negative emotion and often empowers us to feel better than the other person.

Jesus had compassion on Mary and Martha and that is why he cried.  He had the ability to heal Lazarus,  but He knew this would be a teaching moment for them.  We need to remember God is always in charge.  Many times these teaching moments are lessons which cause us to learn to become independent and lean on Him. 

I trust as you learn to become more independent, you become more secure with who you are and your relationship with God.   Allow God to lead you to help others on their journey in life no matter what it is. 

May God’s blessings become real to you in your life!   May we all become confident in our lives to help others.   I also pray if things are tough for you, God will put someone in your path to help you along the way.

Blessings to each of you my friends…….