Fear and Love

I have always been a talker, and I feel like I've learned to articulate myself and communicate my thoughts relatively well over the years. However, in light of the events in Paris, Syria, and now the U.S. in the past couple weeks, I find myself struggling to put words to my thoughts and emotions.  Some issues seem black and white.  The question of whether to respond to those in need usually is.  But there are so many layers to the discussion involving Syrian refugees that I feel it is important to acknowledge that this is NOT a cut and dry process.

I believe that the main reason that this discussion has become so difficult is because of the dichotomy of fear.  We all know that fear can be a healthy emotion sometimes.  It is fear that sets off the warning bell to keep us from being burnt by a hot surface, or electrocuting ourselves, or getting hit by a car when crossing the street.  It is fear that is leading many in our country now to say, "Keep them out.  If we can't be sure what their intentions are towards us and our innocents, we can't take that risk".

But fear can also cross a line and become the problem.  Scripture warns us against this kind of fear so many times that it is said that "Do not fear" is the most repeated command in the Bible.  Whether that is specifically true or not doesn't matter--what does matter is that God knows that we, as humans have a propensity to fear.  So, like most things that can be good, he warns us against the extreme--the point at which fear paralyzes us from the actions of love.

Love is an amazing thing.  It is one of the few things in this world that cannot be pushed into a "bad" extreme.  You can never have "too much" love.  And love does amazing things.  It gives us the power to forgive.  The second greatest commandment of the Old Testament calls us to love our neighbors.  Jesus showed us that our neighbor is more than just the person that lives next door to us (Luke 10:25-37).  Jesus also took it a step further and told us to love our enemies.

So the question remains: how do we walk the fine line of allowing fear to help protect us from danger, while at the same time loving our enemies? 

I think this is a question that we all have to answer individually for ourselves.  But as we walk through the process of answering this question, let us ask God to give us "a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Advent Devotions

My mother has always been a "collector".  I wouldn't go so far as to call her a hoarder, but she has saved up many bits of paper and important photos over the years.  Most of the time she either displays these things proudly as a testament to her family's legacy, or uses them well in her life.  One of the "bits of paper" that she saved from before I was born was pages of a magazine with a simple Advent Devotional and instructions on how to make an Advent Wreath.  The Advent Wreath has always played a prominent role in our family Christmas celebrations, and my mother continues to pass this sacred tradition on to others--often making an Advent Wreath for newly-weds and tucking the devotional into the box.

As I grew up, my parents and I faithfully gathered together each Advent Sunday to use this special devotional and anticipate the Christ child's coming.  I am beyond grateful for this tradition and memory that I have of our family time.  We would turn off all the lights, find a flashlight, and celebrate together.  And if anyone was with us, they were included in the celebration.  It was such a peaceful time to slow down and remember what the true meaning of the season was.

When I moved away from home, my mother gave me a Christmas song book, a hymnal, and copies of the original devotional pages so that, in the event that we couldn't be together for Christmas, I could celebrate with whoever I was with.  When I got married, my husband and I began using the devotional in our Christmas celebrations, including anyone who we were with at the time.

I always imagined sharing this precious tradition with my own children--repeating it so often that the Scripture, readings, and prayers would be seared into their memories too.  As I've read recently in a book by Laura Story, sometimes we have to let go of some of our dreams because God has better plans.  The dream of sharing this tradition with my own children is something I've had to let go of.  But this holiday season, God has given me a new dream.  I will be sharing this devotional with the kids at my church through my role as a Children's Ministry Director!  I'm so excited about this chance to pass on something that has been so formative in my spiritual walk to the next generation!

I would also like to share this devotional with you!  I have never found anything like it in my many searches over the years.  It is beautifully written, and based on verses of the song, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".  Click here to find a printable PDF of this devotional.

Painted Pasta Christmas Ornaments

This looks like fun!

DIY Christmas Decoration
Christmas is coming and this can be useful..
Posted by Smart Ideas on Friday, December 19, 2014

Coin Flip, Hand Squeeze Race Game

Materials Needed: Coin, small grabable object (i.e. ball, stuffed animal, etc.).

How to play: Players form two teams. One player is chosen to be the referee. The teams sit on the floor in facing lines facing. At the head of the lines, the referee sits between the two players with a coin. At the end of the line, a small ball or other item sits in the middle of the last two players.  The two players on the end of their line closest to the referee watch as the referee flips the coin. If it lands tails, nothing happens. If it land on heads, the hand squeezing begins. It is a race to squeeze hands quick enough so that your team member at the end of the line can be the first to grab the ball or other item in the middle. The winning team gets to rotate their players down one. The game is over when a team has rotated all their players through the line.

Twist: If a player grabs the item on tails, the team rotates backwards one person.

Click here to see Before and After pictures of Norwex doing it's job!

Silence

Even though I wish I didn't have to have Iived through the hard things I experienced last year, I am grateful for one thing in particular. I'm grateful that God has allowed me to learn a very important lesson. The lesson of silence. 

I have always been a verbal person--someone who is constantly processing my world verbally. I find it difficult to keep my mouth shut when I feel like I can help someone by speaking words. It drives me crazy to feel like there are no magic words that will make everything better. Having this as part of my personality, I completely understand why most people feel the need to verbally support someone who is in pain. 

Through my own pain this year I have learned that the deepest support someone can give to a loved one in pain--the most genuine gesture of love--is silence.  As uncomfortable as it may be to hold my tongue when someone bears their heart to me, that discomfort is nothing compared to the pain I might inflict on someone by saying the wrong thing. 

The greatest gifts I was given during this time were gifts of shared tears, quiet, unspoken prayers, and hugs.  I know now that, as those around me trust their hearts and stories of suffering with me, the best thing I can do is to listen quietly. And if circumstances really insist that I speak words out loud, I know to offer tangible helpful actions that will allow the person to find some quiet moments, and a promise to offer heartfelt prayers lifted to the Savior who is the only one who can speak all the right words of comfort and peace to their hearts.