Missing Valuable Family Relationships?

Recently, I had the wonderful privilege of meeting a relative that I’d come to know only as a voice over the phone, which I readily recognized whenever she called.  But I’d never met her personally. She called from time to time to provide an update on the family and check in on the state of our family. While faithful in calling, I did not take advantage of an opportunity to meet her personally.

Here we were face to face with a family legend; someone who was well-acquainted the history of our family. Looking into the well-worn face of this 83-year-old reminded me of how strengthening life can be and how fleeting time is.  This woman shared some of her life story – how she remained married to the same man for more than 50 years, lost two children unexpectedly and stood by in pain as another child endured a long struggle with drugs.

Instead of someone who was bitter about the hand dealt her, she was joyful about having survived situations in which she had no say-so in or control over. What I observed also was someone with a loving, genuine heart and a tough veneer. While life may have dealt difficult blows, still she rose above each challenge with sincere thankfulness to God for how He brought her through them and for the life she had already lived.

Today, her heart is in a different and better place than it was prior to her experiences. My aunt realized that no matter how difficult her challenges were, the outcome of each heart-wrenching situation still could have been very different.  She could have been consumed with grief and bitterness. Instead, she chose to live, continue to give and to move on with dignity – something that her 40 children, grand- and great-grandchildren needed as an example.

Among the regrets I have is that we’ve lost so much time in getting to know each other to establish a long meaningful relationship. I should have met her much sooner. I missed out on knowing her terrific husband and a generation of relatives with the capacity to add value to my life.

Are you missing out on meaningful family relationships? Take an initial step today to close the gap. You will be glad you did!

Tools for Purpose with Passion

A couple of days ago I attended an appreciation program for volunteer ministry workers in my church. This annual celebration recognizes the selfless work of volunteers who serve in various capacities throughout the church and are pivotal to the ministry meeting the needs of the congregation.  

Our pastor presented rosters of both continuing ministry leaders and new ministry leaders for 2012. It was an awesome sight to see the immense number of volunteers involved in nearly every aspect of the ministry.

What I reflected upon later was that these ministry workers were much more than men and women in formal attire sitting on stage. They were the tools that God used to get His work done to further the Gospel. God used the gifts and talents that He blessed them with to invest in the lives of others and to broaden the reach and impact of the ministry. My church has been strengthened because service workers not only discovered their spiritual gifts and natural talents, but got involved in areas that complemented their gifts and talents.

Just that quickly, I began seeing the people around me as resources – special tools in the hand of an Almighty God. Then I began to realize how important each of us is to God’s plan for mankind; that His work on earth can only go forward through the willing hands and hearts of His creation.

What I saw that night was indicative of what happens outside of the church arena. We, too, are resources and tools that are used to advance all kinds of missions and purposes of organizations, groups, activities, etc. that we are involved in.

But are they really in line with the purpose that God has for our lives? Have we taken the opportunity to discover the gifts and talents that God has placed within us so that we can use them to the manner that He intends for them to be used.

Why not give ourselves a special gift this holiday season– the gift of discovering who we really are so that we can be prepared for purpose with passion?

God wants to use you!