The Worst Isn't Going to Happen

After 12 years and 2 children, Jennifer had had enough.  Her husband had had 3 affairs (that she knew of).  The latest was…. Well, she’d rather not think about what the other woman looked like.  It was the worst thing he’d ever done to her, on top of all the other worst things he’d ever done to her.  He’d tried to apologize and explain, but it was deja voo; Jennifer had heard this before.  Their marriage was over.  Her friends said, “The guy was a loser.  Good riddance.”  But Jennifer was not to be consoled.  She felt stupid.  Angry.  Used.  Most of all, she felt rejected.

Rejected. The word brings up images of jilted lovers and laid-off workers.  People who apply for a job and don’t get it.   People who try out for a team and don’t make the cut.  Of course, some people reject themselves.  An aspiring author has her manuscript rejected; so she gives up writing.  Tired of the taunting and the rejection, a teenager takes his own life.  Suicide is the ultimate self-rejection.

Jennifer rejected herself for a while, mourning and moping, in self-pity, refusing to take control of the situation and make a new life for herself.  Finally, her friends said, “Quit feeling sorry for yourself.  Get down off the cross.”

The Christian faith holds out God’s love and acceptance to us.   “[Nothing] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”  (Romans 8:39).  Nothing in all creation.  Others may reject you.  You may reject yourself.  But God doesn’t.

It’s good to know that the worst thing that can happen to you, can’t happen.  Death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.  The worst thing that can happen to you is that God will reject you, that somehow God will stop loving you, stop accepting you.  And that can’t happen.  Like the Apostle Paul said: “Nothing in all creation…”

Others may reject you.  You may reject yourself.  But God always loves you and accepts you with open arms.  You are God’s child.  Your picture is in heaven.  The worst that can happen to you, isn’t going to happen.  Phew.  That’s a relief.  Now get down off that cross.

If you feel rejected, these Scriptures may help you: Romans 8:16, Ephesians 2:8, Galatians 3:13-14, Colossians 1:13-14

Travelers on a Train

At birth we board a train and meet our parents. We believe they will always travel by our side. However, at some station, our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by, other people will board the train, and they will be significant - siblings, friends, the love of your life, children, and many others. Some will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we won't realize they vacated their seats.

The train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, good-byes, and farewells. A successful ride requires having a good relationship with all passengers. We must give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is, we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank God for the journey.

Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train.

                                                                   

author unknown

Margin: Restoring Your Reserves

In 1995, Richard Swenson wrote a book called Margin: Restoring Emotional Physical Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives.  A printed page has a column of blank space along each side of every page.  We need some blank space in our lives; margin is the space that we need between ourselves and our limits. Do you allow yourself some free time everyday?  

We have a tendency to fill up every part of our schedules.  Our days and nights are full of work, meals, conversations, phone calls, texts, emails, news, interruptions, appointments, etc.  So there’s a tendency to fill up the blank spaces in our lives.  The problem with this is that when a crisis comes up, it pushes us beyond our limits, and then we suffer from stress overload.  It’s like being pushed off the edge of your limits, or off the edge of your page. That’s what leads to heart attacks, divorces, broken relationships, high blood pressure, angry outbursts, etc. 

If your life is filled to the edges of your schedule, and you find yourself exhausted at the end of every day, you are probably trying to do too much.  You need to develop margins in your life – some black space or free time between you and your limits.  What can you eliminate from your schedule?  What can you say no to?  Does that team or committee really need you?  How can you say no to the next new project that comes up?  Do you really need to work overtime regularly?  How can you free up some time to relax and unwind?  

The principle of margin is similar to the Biblical Sabbath principle.  The Sabbath was the day of rest on the 7^th day of creation, and the reason why God commanded the Israelites to rest on the 7^th day of the week.  The idea is that we need one day of rest and worship per week, to be renewed and rest our bodies and minds from the daily grind.  The idea for margin is the same – that we need times for rest and renewal, to recover from the stress of daily life.

If you are stressed out or worn out, plan to take a day off for rest and worship and renewal.  Plan to find time in your life, to leave blank, like the margin on the edge of the page.  Do this, and you will be blessed.