A few weeks ago I complained about a nasty canker sore I had on the inside of my cheek. It's long gone now, but I still can't help but think about it.
It hurt that bad.
In comparison to my body, it was minuscule in size. The rest of my body felt just fine, in fact. Healthy as a horse. Yet...it made my days miserable. Especially one of the things I enjoy most...eating.
It's like that in life though, isn't it? So many things to be thankful for. So many good things happening, and all it takes is that one little thing to distract us from the rest. To somehow make all the other great things suddenly seem less enjoyable.
It's like that in churches too. Ask anyone who goes to a church and they can likely think of a situation they've experienced. Maybe they enjoy so much about their church...but there's that one little thing they can't quite get over. Ask those in ministry and you'll likely receive a faint smile and shrug of the shoulders. Either because they're doing all they can to hand over everyone's one little thing to their Savior who promises He has the shoulders to bear it...because they do not, or because although so many people in their church are faithful and encouraging and growing in their faith and are joyful...there's that one...
It was tough to ignore the canker sore. Sometimes, I just decided I would not be able to enjoy food until it was gone. Totally and completely gone.
And other times, I resolved to eat things that didn't bother it so much...because really, one little canker sore surely cannot ruin everything...that would be ridiculous.
God's teaching me to {isolate} things. To take captive the things that seek to destroy joy. The things that distract me from Him. And it's hard. And it's constant. Because isn't it true, there's always something.
Am I saying that people are sometimes like canker sores? Yes. Yes I am.
Praying today that God helps me not to be that canker in someone else's life...and that I learn to not let the canker in my own life steal the joy from all He's doing...because He's doing some really amazing stuff.
- Sarah@Life in the Parsonage
- Wife to Ben, who also happens to be the Pastor of a sweet little church in a tiny little town. Mama to three boys and little Lucy. We live in the parsonage, 27 steps from said little church. This is the journey...it involves lots of run-on sentences.
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The Fringe Hours
Great post with lots to ponder.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy. I wonder if I am that canker sore to someone. Hmmm. Much to think about. Thank you. Blessings, SusanD
ReplyDeleteReallu enjoyed your post today. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDana @Calverette Chronicles
http://calverettechronicles.blogspot.com/
I enjoy your blog. I began following it a while back. I just now had a moment to explore some blogs I "followed". I really appreciate this post.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pastor's wife too so it's nice to "meet" you.
Amy
I read something today that I think is relevant to this, as well: We can receive a compliment and remember it for an hour. We receive an insult and remember it for a lifetime. We have to choose to remember the good things instead of the bad.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love your blog! Sometimes it's crafty things and sometimes funny things your kids do, and then sometimes it's the deep down convicting things that the Lord is impressing on your heart. Thanks for sharing! And inspiring.
ReplyDelete