1 Cor 13:13: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
As this year comes to a close, we have all experienced
a very different Christmas and will start the new year off in much the same manner.
As I sat thinking about the video chats with our kids and grandkids, now 24
grandkids in all, I was both grateful and saddened.
I thought about how we have just had three new
additions to our grandchildren in the last several months and while we see them
grow via video, we can’t hold them close and love on them like we would like. I
know that you can relate.
At the same time, or shortly after, I thought about
how we are so fortunate that technology allows us the opportunity to see them
grow as often as we wish through Google Duo or Marco Polo with families.
Then, I thought of those we didn’t get to see. Our granddaughter
who is lost in addiction and living in the streets. She just turned 20. She is
a whole 80 lbs soaking wet and the most beautiful spirit inside and out. Many
who have met her have never seen how her true heart works, how giving she is
and how deeply she loves. They only have seen the teenager, the broken spirit,
the person lost in darkness. I have so many videos and pictures of us before
she completely gave into her addition. She had given herself to the Lord. Now,
she runs from Him, and us, in shame.
We still text her videos and pictures and songs that
will lift her up and let her know that we love her. That is all that we can do,
even if she never answers back. I don’t get hurt or frustrated or take it
personally because I know that she has created a hell on earth that she doesn’t
want us to be a part of from her shame. I know that the Trinity that used to be
with us, is still in there and loves us as much as she always did. So we hang
in there and never give up.
My heart hurt knowing she was out there somewhere on
Christmas and probably didn’t even know what day it is. She has had everything
bad happen to her out there so far, everything, and yet it hasn’t been enough to
bring her to her knees. We all pray for her, and all of those in addiction,
daily. And I praise God that she is still breathing and as long as she is
breathing, I know that He is still at work in her heart. I trust that, because
that is what we pray for through out the day, for all of those in addiction.
Which brings me to my next point. The season isn’t
about presents and decorations and Santa Claus. Although it is a nice thing to
be able to do. At some point in history, we made it about commercialism, but it
isn’t. Jesus was born solely to die for our sins. He loved us that much. As we
spent time on our video chats with friends and family, my heart was filled with
joy that we have that ability to be with them in part… and in the future, we
will be with them in whole as we can travel around the globe to be near them
and hold them as our hearts long to. And in the end, God willing, we will all
be together with Jesus. That is what matters. Love and salvation.
What is my point? If you have family or friends that have fallen into darkness. Don’t contact them for your sake and then give up when they don’t respond. Send them encouragement and love in any way that you can, however you can and keep doing it no matter what. Expect nothing from them, but continue to pray for complete restoration knowing that God’s will be done.
Imagine, if
you could go back, what would you do differently to save them from themselves?
Do it now with those that you still have.
Love unconditionally. Be grateful and cherish those
who are still with you because you never ever know when you will be taken from
them, or them from you. They aren’t yours. They are a gift from God that He
expects you to love and grow in His truth.
