I learned a very valuable and life changing lesson
this weekend. A lesson that I hope will
stick with me for the rest of my life. I
was feeling really torn up about the passing of a church sister who was also my
neighbor. Although we didn't know each
other extremely well, she really touched my life in a profound way.
She and I together do not make a whole lot of
noise. I guess you can say we're
more on the introverted side when it comes to personalities. Before I started attending this church close
by my house where I first met Henrietta, I would see her jogging outside several days a week. She would pass by me while I stood at the school bus stop with my son. She would smile, and I
would smile back, but that was it. Even
without saying a word to me, something told me that she was a Christian. So when I saw her in the church the first Sabbath
that we attended it I was pleasantly surprised, but not totally shocked.
Well last year when I was going through some rough
times with my health, she was one of the very few people (outside my family)
who took time to check on me to see how I was doing. The mere act of her coming to my house and inquiring
about how I was meant a lot to me, especially since I could feel that she was
stepping out of her comfort zone to do so. And now
as it all sinks in I realize that she did it totally and literally seeking NOTHING in
return, absolutely nothing. Although she
was going through rough times herself, unbeknownst to me, she still reached out
to me in my time of need. She
exemplifies the essence of what God wants us to be... Giving of ourselves and looking for nothing
in return. Now she is no longer here but
I will remember her kindness forever.
And now here I am… What good am I? I’m guilty of wanting to reach out to others,
then pulling back because I‘m too afraid of being rejected. But I now realize that all of that is Pure
Junk! This is exactly what Satan wants me to believe. He brings up past hurts in order to keep me
down and isolated from others. How
can I touch the life of anyone if I’m trapped in a little shell, looking for acceptance? Yes, it’s comfy in my shell, I have God in
here and my family and, and yah… that's
about it.
No, I need to crack the shell open, I
need to toughen up and stop letting rejection run my life. So I’ve been rejected, what of it! And there are those who will continue to
reject me, after all we can’t be loved and accepted by everyone. Look at Jesus, He was blameless, without a spot and even He
was rejected. So how then do I expect
not to experience rejection?
Remember
this:
The grace and acceptance of the
One and only God holds more weight than the rejection of 10 000 people.
All I have to say is, the selflessness that my
sister in Christ showed to me will stay in my heart forever.
Rest in peace dear Henrietta.
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