Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Our own

I have been quite surprised about all of the comments I have received from my previous post on Excuses. I guess more than anything, it made me realize that I am not the only one who struggles in this area.

This got me to start thinking more about what is really behind the our excuses... and I am ashamed to say, for me anyway, it's basically boils down to selfishness.

I guess though, in part, that is due to our strong protective nature that goes into effect the second we leave the womb. Out we come- into the big bad world- where immediately we demand our needs are met. These feelings of having our needs met are so strong that being able to think of others needs has to be taught...

and taught...

and taught some more.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have said to my children "How do you think that would make someone else feel?"

And, I remember my mother saying the same thing to me.

So because we are so in tuned to meet 'our own' needs, I think that often times we use excuses to protect what we do have -just in case we might need it later.

And, the truth is- if we open our home and our hearts to a child- it IS going to cost us
something...

our time,
our money,
our attention,
and probably a whole lot more.

Therefore, in our minds, our excuses become legitimate.

After all, we have to be able to protect 'our own' and give 'our own' what they need and want-so much so, that unfortunately, we have a nation full of (sorry) spoiled brats that no longer know how to think of anyone or anything else- but 'our own' needs and wants.

Ouch.

But the truth is, this life is not 'our own'.

It's not about us making it through safe.

It's not about us making it to the end with the greatest amount of comfort and ease.

I think somewhere along the way we have told ourselves it is okay to come up with these excuses in effort to cling to our securities. We seem to need some guarantee that before we take that first step of reaching out to someone else that our own needs will still be met, that things will go smoothly and that things will be easy.

Can I just be honest with you?

They won't.

Things won't always be easy.

You will give until it hurts.
You will give of yourself.
You will make sacrifices.
and it will be work.
You will suffer
and you will hurt.

Sound familiar?

Like maybe what Jesus did for you and I on the cross?

I am so thankful that God chose to not only care about 'his own'. His one and only son.

I am so thankful for the sacrifices He made.

He gave.

He gave it all.

And we are to follow His example.

He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32


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16 comments:

Unknown said...

You know what I'm doing right now?

SMILING!

AMEN!

Oh how our hearts are so aligned and being a voice side by side with you for laying down all of us for all of HIM - is a blessing beyond words!

I love you Amy!

Have a love filled day :)

Jill

Joanna B said...

That is SUCH a good reminder, Amy! I really needed that today, thanks!

Sophie said...

Amen! Amy you are so right on.You should not apologize for using the word spoiled, because that perfectly describes today's society, can I add self absorbed to that? Of course we all want our needs met and our desires fulfilled but as Christian's our greatest desire should be to please the Lord. You are so right just like Christ gave us His all, shed His blood so that we may be saved, we should in turn strive to give our all to others. Love this post, your awewome!

Donna said...

Thanks!

Love both posts!

You have a wonderful way of putting it like it is--or so many of us would not be able to relate to it!

Delighting in Him

Anonymous said...

Amen, amen, and amen.

Unfortunately I am no different.

My husband and I are headed out of town tomorrow to meet 12 year that we are thinking of adopting through disruption.

My flesh screams out, NO! NO! NO! It will to hard. She is too messed up. I don't want to take this on. I just can't do it. What will it do to my finances? What will it do to make children? What will it do to my marriage. What are people going to say.

My flesh says, how about a little kid Lord. I can do that. A nice sweet little someone under the age five. I'll do that. Please don't ask me to do this though.

It is a battle, everyday.

One I must fight, in the spirit and with the word.

Choosing the harder path.

Choosing adoption is not going to put us on cross like it did our Savior.

It will however, cause us to PICK UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS.

Exactly what HE expects us to do.

Death to self, Life in Christ, serving others.

That is real truth.

Do I choose to listen to the truth...or the lies?

Chris said...

Amen! I don't have your way with words...wish I did...you said it quite clearly...Thank you.

Emma said...

Hi, nice to meet you. I've just read through your whole blog over the past few days and I've come out feeling very humbled and like I'm not doing half as much as I should for God. In the church my family belongs to, they care so much about being saved that that is all they talk about, week after week. But here on your blog, not one mention. In fact, there are many others who also seem to agree with my conclusion: although getting saved is a necessity, after that there is a whole new life awaiting us ... I can't wait to see what God has in store for me this year, but even with encouragement from scripture and other quotes, there are many times when I do feel a bit lost and wonder about the why's, the how's ...

I wish the word logistics didn't exist. But I think you've proved a lot that we don't need to think logically, even when we find ourselves doing so all the time!

long ramble, sorry. amazing how many fantastic people we can meet online, when we live across an ocean from each other. What a blessing blogger has been- God does work in strange ways.

natali said...

i love these inspiring words!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely love your post...and then there are those who are walking the adoption journey...and the government makes it even more difficult to proceed. Please be in prayer for those who have heard and listened to the call and are now being told NO by the North American governments.

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT! Preach it girl....you are so right! So thankful for your honesty and ability to make us all think about what really is important! The world tells us to look out for ourselves...God wants us to love others and give and give and give of ourselves! You have such a way with words and I am so thankful that God has blessed you in this way! Miss you , love you and wish you were back home again in Indiana!

Heather

Andrea said...

You have such a way with words and bringing it all to the table! Thank you and AMEN!

Unknown said...

greg and i always call it "misplaced worship". worshiping ourselves, stroking ourselves, putting ourselves first. good word & good admonishment.

Anonymous said...

Amy, you have something inspiring to say in every blog post! I can't get over how good you are with words! I can't figure out the stupid google acount so this comment is under anonymous (but you know who I am!) :-)
Mattie Patterson

Jocelyn said...

thank you for that reminder... i needed that today. things have been hard... fears, frustrations, control issues... the desire to feel comfortable for the first time in a long time in my own life. but... it's not about me, or 'my own' desires or comfort or wants. there are so many times when i feel like taking it back- i was just kidding God about going this road... it's too hard... on ME. ME, ME, ME.
thank you for those gentle and wonderful reminders. God is using you in such a way of encouragement- you are able to say what needs to be said but do so in such a loving and caring way. i appreciate you and your heart so much.
thank you.

Renea Lynch said...

Lovin' the second post as much as the first!!! Amen girlfriend! ♥

Karin said...

I have loved your last two posts. Even though we have adopted a lot of kids, I still know that I am spoiled by life here in America and I could give a lot more if I was willing to do more sacrificing...