By Pam Kamrath
Parents’ Night Out Coordinator, Special Needs Ministry
Once again the urgent got in the way. It’s the end of the day and the e-mails have gone unanswered, the card still sits on the desk waiting to be mailed for that birthday greeting to someone special, the dust continues to pile up, the laundry needs to be done, dinner needs to be made, and once again, I have neglected to call my aging mother who wants nothing more than to hear my voice and chat about her day.
I slip into bed exhausted over the daily ritual of things that “needed” to get done, and as I begin to drift off to sleep I am reminded of one more thing that the urgent got in the way of. Did I let my husband know that I loved him?
Did I tell him he is my rock, my fortress, my oasis when our life gets rough? Have I told him that without him and the image of Christ that he portrays to me I would be left so empty every day that I can’t even imagine life without him? Did I say “I love you”?
The urgent always supersedes, always interrupts, always delays, and always gets in the way. The urgent is impatient, unforgiving, inconsiderate, and reminds me when I’m wrong, quite the contrast to what the Bible says love is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Life has its challenges. Our full schedules are even more complicated when we add to it the trials we face every day. Illness, finances, aging parents, the extra care of a child who has special needs, all add to the stress of our already busy lives.
So where do you turn? God never meant for us to struggle and feel so overwhelmed every day. He wants us to experience joy and life with Him. I have learned that we try to find happiness in things, but true joy comes from knowing Christ himself.
How do we find that joy and how do we fit that in when the urgent is always competing for our time? God’s Word promises to strengthen us, encourage us, and lift us up when we feel like we are falling flat on our faces. Jesus promises to walk by our side even when no one else will.
Jesus doesn’t promise we won’t have trials, discouragement, or days that we have totally blown. He knows we will forget to take time to help someone or let them know we care. He knows at the end of our day we will have forgotten to tell someone very special in our life how much they mean to us or say “I love you.” He knows we will forget to be thankful.
It’s OK.
Tomorrow is a new day, and His mercies are new every morning.
The Rock Your Marriage retreat is coming up March 28-29. Get your tickets today and get early-bird discounts until February 17.
Childcare available on a as needed basis for families who have children with special needs. E-mail Pam for more information.
