"I just. want. to. cook. — not hunt!" {A Holy Experience, blog by the author of One Thousand Gifts}
This post
from today hit the mark for me because I have so often found myself in exactly such situations, including when I can't find my cooking tools: trying to get work done and welling up inside with frustration and impatience when things don't go smoothly, time is wasted, messes are made, things fell completely out of order, wanting to blame, knowing I shouldn't vent outloud...
“And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me…” ~Mt. 10:38
"Take up a cross… Be willing to suffer… this — these are the marks of a follower of Christ.
Perhaps our greatest daily temptation is to be impatient — to refuse to suffer.
Perhaps my greatest daily sin is to refuse to suffer — to refuse to take up the cross of Christ.
Perhaps my greatest sin is refusing to wait on God’s ways — but to want my own will done — now.
Patience is a surrendering to suffering — a willingness to wait — a carrying of the Cross.
Today — there is always that possibility — to carry the cross, surrender to suffering, be willing to wait…"
This message spoke to me {and I like the author's poetic description of a heart being spoke to:
"I’m hushed and gently turned around, the soul creases smoothed out, the heart dust brushed off."--this is what her recalled memory of the Scripture passage had done for her heart, and what her post has helped do for mine} about how
each day we need to be prepared for the possibility of suffering, and our response to it is to take up 'the cross' {our sufferings to bear} and follow Him. We do not follow our own desires to rant or vent or blame...but we
respond with a heart that belongs to Christ and seeks to have patience and grace in the midst of trouble. {Insert here:
the new wooden plaque put up in the kitchen/dining area of our home--love these words}
Now, it is important to look at 'suffering' not in the context of our normal definition of suffering, but to interpret the word to also include our minor, everyday troubles.
{"This cross of domestic patience here is really but driftwood for the spiritual midgets..." The author agrees that our suffering is minor compared to the suffering Christ did in carrying His cross, but the principle from Scripture remains.} What everday 'suffering' might look like, and just a couple examples:
- problems {being late somewhere, when things break}
- discomfort {physical ailments, being too hot or cold, being hungry or tired, kids' car noise
hurting damaging ears}
- messes {tracked dirt, splattered mud, dirty faces, hands and feet, toothpaste in the sink, spots on the faucets and mirrors}
- disorder {lost items, clutter}
- irritation {when you find your children have not obeyed,
when your husband...well, I won't go there}
- time wasted {when you have to wait. in line. in traffic. for others.all the time.}
- inconvenience {all of the above}
Two nights ago, I happened to see the Tom Cruise movie, "The Last Samurai" played on tv, and was intrigued again, as I always am when I hear of soldiers and war, how warriors can go into battle with confidence amidst fear because of their focus and dedication to their purpose. It is a life of discipline, as the Samurai people displayed in that movie.
Each day, whether we choose to accept the fact or not, we are facing a battle with something that wants to pull us away from our purpose; to distract us from our focus. And we need to be mindful of the small, everyday ways we are falling apart slowly, lest we don't even realize what is happening to us. Today, I am challenged to better discipline myself; to steel myself to be ready for the everyday possibility for suffering and to be prepared to hold steady with the proper response during moments where I face discomfort and impatience because of problems.
I think many people pride themselves in living a well-disciplined life in other, seemingly larger, outward areas of life, such as doing solid work at their job, always being on time, keeping a clean home and manicured yard, maintaining a fit and healthy body, maintaining relationships, going to church regularly, etc. These are all great things to do, but
do we approach the vital inward aspects of life--having the proper response to problems, 'grace under fire', a calm and quiet spirit despite turbulance, honoring God and others with our attitude--with the same resolve and discipline?
In my kitchen, above the cupboards, is a wooden sign of the word "PRAY". When I glace at that word throughout the day, I am reminded to finish the sentence in my head in that moment with a prayer from the heart, "Lord, I PRAY..." Here is a list of what I am praying for in the everyday moments this week:
- for the proper response to suffering
- for grace
- for patience; a willingness to wait
- for steely discipline
- for an acceptance of {to surrender to} my suffering to bear "for in this life you will have trouble..."
- for joy
- for a thankful heart that focuses on the gifts in life rather than the pain
