Looking Through 90-Year-Old Eyes

 

The COVID-19 virus has taken over our lives.  Social media and regular media alike are saturated with non-stop stories and posts allegedly designed to keep us well-informed; but I think these outlets are fueling fear and panic more than disseminating information.  The only good thing I can gain from this is that I haven’t seen any stories or posts on politics or the 2020 election recently, and for that I’m very thankful!  But does this current situation HAVE to take over our lives?  While it is inconvenient and annoying for all of us, shouldn’t we as Christians approach something like this in a different way?

My mother quietly turned 90 years old this past week, and making preparations for an upcoming family party to celebrate her longevity has helped me to look at things with different eyes.  There’s a reason the Bible tells us to respect our elders and seek wisdom from them.  When I look at all that she has seen and heard in 90 years of life, I am filled with awe at how resilient humans can actually be.

Born just a few months after the 1929 stock market crash, the first ten years of her life were permeated by the Great Depression – and then there was a long world war.  All of her formative years were spent seeing poverty around her, shortages for everyone, government rationing (during the war), and lowered expectations of what we all deserve.  As a result, my Mom is probably the most frugal person I know (except for maybe my Dad before he died).  The culture of her childhood was much quicker to share with neighbors and help others – because everyone 

was in the same boat together.

Not so in the 21^st century.  Although King Solomon (the wisest man who ever lived) told us that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), we seem to think we are currently in an unprecedented situation that we somehow must seek to control for our own benefit.  So it doesn’t matter if my neighbor has enough toilet paper or food to eat; all that matters is that my family has enough to last until the end of time.  But Christians should be different.  We shouldn’t be giving in to fear and panic like everyone else.

Why?  Because we have been told not to cling to this life (Luke 17:33), but to see it merely as a stepping stone to eternity with God.  The only purpose of our life on earth is to grow more Christlike and bring glory to God – thus preparing us for the eternal life we were created for.  This life is NOT the point!  In times of crisis, it is important for us to remember this and model this for others.  If we fully trust only in God – who alone is certain and unchangeable, we will understand that whatever happens to us in this life is within his sovereignty and designed for our best – no matter how painful it might be from a human standpoint.  If COVID-19 is contracted by me or someone I love – even if it brings death to our family – God loves me and knows what he’s doing!  I am not more important than anyone else.   

When I think about the positive things we Christians can be doing during this crisis, I don’t have to look any further than at Jesus’ example.  We think we are “suffering” right now; but imagine what it was like for the fully divine ruler of the universe to make his dwelling place on earth (John 1:14).  Every moment of Jesus’ life, his experiences were totally “other” than what he was accustomed to.  If you think it’s difficult to deal with some of the people you know, imagine what it was like for Jesus! 

Yet his example for us was to love everyone, have compassion on them when they were off-base, pray for them, and sacrifice his own rights for the sake of others.  Prayer should be first and foremost – it is one of the few things we can do consistently from the isolation of our homes.  But let’s make sure we aren’t using our prayer time to further our own self-interests by asking God to keep us and everyone we love safe and protected.  While Jesus told God exactly how he felt about his upcoming suffering and death, he quickly submitted his will to God’s will in regards to his own problems and devoted most of his prayer time in the garden to lifting up others, including us.  Are we praying for the families who have lost someone during this crisis?  Are we praying for the isolated and confused elderly who can no longer be visited by their family members?  Are we praying for people to be open to hear the gospel and for changed lives during this difficult time?  The list could go on. 

Most people in our society are responding to COVID-19 in self-protective ways and trying to get whatever they think they deserve – at the store, from their employers, from the government, etc.  But as Christians we know that none of us actually deserves anything but suffering and death.  By God’s grace, we have all been shown mercy and given a way to eternal freedom.  Does my response during this worldwide crisis lead others to the truth, or do I look just like everyone else? 

Unexpected

A funny thing happened on the way to 2020.  I didn’t plan it, and I didn’t want it.  I’m not sure what to call it, but others in the past have named it “writer’s block”.  I hope it’s not permanent; but, for the past several months, writing for this blog hasn’t happened.

It’s not because there’s nothing to write about.  The past year has been a good one with many blessings.  I started 2019 with one adopted grandchild and ended it with two adopted grandchildren!  I’ve also had the privilege of grandparenting two other foster grandchildren during the past year.  My husband and I are in our 40^th year of marriage and figured out that we have welcomed five new decades together!  My sons and daughter-in-law all have excellent jobs and have chosen to love God and seek his guidance for their lives.  I’ve traveled to visit family several times and had them visit us as well.  My husband and I crossed off a “bucket list” trip in the fall to see the beautiful leaves and other sights of the northeastern U.S. states.  I was able to speak at a women’s retreat in the spring and continued to lead women’s Bible studies at our church throughout the year.  That doesn’t cover it all, but you get the idea!  Yes, God continues to bless me daily.

But what he hasn’t done at all lately is lead me to write.  Every week I ask him to place something on my heart if he wants me to write.  If he doesn’t give me an idea, I don’t write.  In the past, he has always made it clear; but my recent experience has been silence.  I expected to find inspiration in such things as current events, holidays, or a new year and decade; but the silence has persisted.  I’ve experienced God’s silence before and written about it – but those circumstances were much different than now.  God doesn’t seem silent in my walk with him right now, just in my writing.  And I want to be faithful to listen to him before I presume to share my thoughts in a blog.  I want to be sure that what I say is grounded in his Word, coming from him and not just from me. 

So for now it seems that the silence in my blog will continue.  I don’t know how long, and I don’t know why.  But I do know that I have asked God to show me what he wants me to do; and I know he will continue to be faithful to reveal his will to me and guide my service for him in the future.  Thank you for reading in the past – I hope to have something new for you to read again in the future.  Until then . . .

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”                                           Romans 15:13   

A Child's Reminder

Preschoolers have always been one of my favorite ages.  Their wide-eyed innocence and enjoyment of each moment is refreshing for those of us who have been around for a while longer.  And my recent stay with my grandchildren didn’t disappoint.

One thing that was different this time was that they had reached the age that allowed me to dig out some of my old ideas from my preschool-teaching days, and they were ready to have fun learning with Grandma.  Of course, letters and numbers and colors and shapes were on the agenda, as well as a special craft; but being able to also reinforce their parents’ teaching about God was a special privilege.

Never underestimate God’s sovereignty in even the little things and the power of his Word for even the youngest child!  I came equipped with one Bible verse to teach and one object lesson to reinforce it – randomly selected before I left home from a very old preschool resource: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6).  I had no idea that my grandson had been experiencing times of fear and imaginary but very real fearful thoughts/images.  But God knew!

While the verse was less effective at this time with my granddaughter, Jacob found out that God’s Word had an answer to his present fears.  His parents were able to continue to use the verse (which he instantly memorized) to remind him of God’s presence and love for him.  At the tender age of four, he has begun to learn that God’s Word is true and that God cares about every part of his life.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God’s Word is living and active, and I have seen that truth so many times in my walk with God.  Sometimes we need his Word to convict or correct us, sometimes to teach or train us, and sometimes to reassure or comfort us.  Second Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that the Bible is God’s very breath and is useful for all of these purposes.  But we adults sometimes need to learn something from children. 

Jacob never asked me the kind of questions adults ask about God.  He didn’t analyze the memory verse and didn’t seem to wonder HOW God was his helper – he just believed what it said and knew he didn’t need to be afraid anymore.   If only we could approach God and his Word with the same innocence as preschoolers – able to easily trust and see God in the small things.  Thank you, grandson, for reminding me to take God at his Word.  He can always be fully trusted!