So, I just listened to an amazing sermon! "Joy in suffering"
http://marshill.com/media/rebels-guide-to-joy/the-rebels-guide-to-joy-in-suffering
Everybody suffers. In some way shape or form and I want to suffer well. You know, sometimes I like to play the victim. Sometimes I like people to feel sorry for me and what I have been through. I think, "don't people understand what I have been through? If they knew they would be nicer to me." That sucks to admit, but it is true. That is not suffering well. I don't want to use my hurt as a crutch to gain attention or even praise for my own ego. I don't want Edward to be in vain. He is so precious and God's true work in form that I want his story/life to be for God's glory. I know it will be. I want to be humble enough so God can use me, too. I want my 'suffering' to be purposeful not purposeless! I believe that joy is a choice. I can decide to be happy in all circumstances. 2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulites. For when I am weak, then I am strong." James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.." Romans 5:3 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.." I loved this quote by a Romanian pastor who suffered under Communist rule, "Christians are like nails, the harder you hit them, the deeper they go." I want to know God better through my trials. That is why I want to suffer well.
My boys be crazy. Seriously! Harvey likes to annoy Edward. Edward, in turn, likes to make awful sounds when he is annoyed! Most the time, Edward adores Harv. Harvey will jump or sing or do whatever to make him laugh or smile. Every morning when he wakes up, he tells me to go get Edward. I love seeing their relationship get stronger! Harv is very protective of his baby brother!
At Edward's last cast appointment he weighed 11.9 lbs! That is pretty good...I would like to see 13, but I will take it! He gets his AFO's on Monday! Yay! I will post more pictures when he gets his brace and afo's!
Love the picture of your boys! So cute.
ReplyDeleteI'm always curious to see what the dynamic is like between my two boys. Always hopeful that they'll be good friends. I'm sure you do too!
I totally know what you mean about suffering well. That's soooooooooo hard! But it's really what separates true believers from the rest of the world. To suffer like Jesus suffered. Facing pain head on and going through those doors that you'd NEVER want to go through. But have to.
I like to think about Heb. 12:2 "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame..."
I love the part "who for the joy." That's what keeps me going.
But I know what you mean. You would hope people would be more kind and understanding. But they don't understand. Unless they've been through something similar, or are just really good at empathizing. People try to comfort you, and unless they've been in your shoes, it feels so petty. Like, "this is just a season. It will get better." Really? How do you know? You have no clue what you speak of. My child's condition is not a temporary issue. It's lifelong. It's not getting better anytime soon. And for you to blow off my struggles so quickly and flippantly, doesn't help. But, what do you do? Nod your head, smile and pray you don't get bitter.
They don't understand. And they're not going to understand. But there's One who does. And I'm thankful for that!