IN A COVID INFFECTED WORLD

The weeks turned to months turned to years of Covid-19 has worn on us. (Anyone remember the “two week” shutdown to flatten the curve?) Here we are two years later still dealing with the ramifications of this contagion on our lives. Death, fear, illness, distancing, shortages, masks, lost celebrations, weakened relationships, all these societal changes wear on us. Daily. To what end? Our emotional and mental equilibrium has been set off balance.

We had signs of this from the beginning. We got “cabin fever” during those first two weeks. We didn’t have our go to crutches of shopping, entertainment, eating out, and meeting friends. How were we going to handle ourselves? Those were our emotional escape mechanisms.

It began to dawn on us in the fall that first year when kids couldn’t go back to school and many of us were still working from home, that we were becoming emotionally fragile. News programs began talking about the increasing rate of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide attempts. Our world had been rocked. Our internal well-being was challenged. All of us were affected to some extent, but those without a strong foundation of faith found themselves simmering in hidden currents of emotional magma that threatened to break through at any moment.

What erupted from that was angry outbursts, hatred, polarization of people, and all the physical signs that accompany feelings of anger, fear and outrage.

Most likely none of us have handled these feelings as well as we wish we would have. But we have learned a lot about ourselves and enough time has passed for us to evaluate and consider how we might live differently. The words Be kind have become a mantra for schools and in society at large. But as Christians we will be helped most if we turn to scriptural truths to tell us how to live. (This was true before Covid, but it has now caught our attention.) So how shall we live ladies? Here are some verses from Romans 12 that speak to these issues. (Share other verses in the comments that have helped you.)

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Romans 12:1 “…Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.”

Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere.”

Romans 12:9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Romans 12:10 “Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:13 “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn”

Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another.”

Romans 12:16 “Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

Romans 12:17 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”

Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge”

Romans 12:20 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Years ago there was a popular Christian song that stated, “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,… and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” It was heart-warming and was sung by youth groups all around to promote unity and love among us all. I imagine many of you sang it at some time.

We live in a very fragmented state here in the US. Differences in opinions over political issues, social issues, health issues, and a hundred other things have led us down a path of separation, antagonism, division, and claims of intolerance and hatred. Are we still Christians who are known by our love, or are we people who are known by our fear, judgment, and condemnation?

We seem to have forgotten that we can have different theological and political views and still love people. Biblical values must be upheld if we call ourselves Christians. The way we hold up our beliefs is what we are considering today. If we aren’t careful, we tend to hold up some sins as horrible. We judge and condemn people who do “those sins.” While at the same time we overlook or take lightly sins that don’t seem so horrendous to us. Sin is sin. God condemns all sin, and He expects us to flee sin, to avoid every appearance of evil, whether it is big or little, murder or lying, robbery or harsh words.

As we Christians operate in society, it is good for us to follow God and declare sinful behaviors wrong. I would not be following Christ if I didn’t. But affirming that homosexuality, abortion, politically correct tolerance, etc., are wrong, does not require me to be hateful or condescending toward the people who believe the opposite of me on these issues. In fact, the love of God compels me to treat these people honorably, with love and gentleness.

At the same time that we stand up against the sin of abortion, do we equally stand up against sins that have broken families down and created environments where people turn to sex outside marriage and end up in a position to desire an abortion? When we boldly condemn homosexuality, do we just as boldly condemn pre-marital sex and adultery? Or are we less verbal in condemning those sins we find tolerable? When we verbalize our opinions on masks or vaccines, do we do so in a way that allows others to hold their own opinions without feeling that we consider them an enemy? When we (rightly) confront our child’s teacher over inappropriate or ungodly material being used in the classroom do we dialog with them with kindness and respect or do we come in like gangbusters demanding and threatening?

I’m reading a wonderful little book by Josh and Sean McDowell called The Beauty of Intolerance: Setting a Generation Free to Know Truth & Love. It has pushed me to examine how I handle issues that go against scripture, and how I treat people who believe differently than I do. In one chapter Sean talks about going to a Christian conference on homosexuality and how he stood firm on God’s Word, yet expressed his theological beliefs to them in loving, acceptable ways.

We need to learn to do that, to express our beliefs based on God’s Word in a way that does not tear down and cause arguing, anger, and hatred. Are we willing to get into discussions and respectful, straight-forward dialog without throwing insults, slurs or jabs? It will be challenging. Are we willing to discuss hard issues without anger and judgment. It will take us out of our comfort zone. It will require us to develop relationships with people very different than we are. But it will open up a door to show God’s love and stand firm in His principles, and will take us as Christians from being seen as judgmental, haters to being respected as people who stand firm but love others unconditionally. It’s a challenge I want to embrace. Will you join me? Let’s let the world know that we are Christians by our love.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John13:34-35

When kids are little, moms know to put the breakables out of reach. This necessitates some changes in decor around the house.

My Little Ones, loved my Precious Moments nativity set. Adored it actually. So when the shepherd’s little lamb got broken out from under his arm, mama made some changes. I made a quick trip to the local Christian bookstore and picked up a kid friendly plastic nativity set and put my precious fragile set out of reach of toddler hands.

Through the years that manger scene has been arranged and rearranged, fought over, and cuddled, and pieces have been lost and found again. Most notably, Baby Jesus, who disappeared after Christmas leaving His family to worry over Him in the cardboard box for a whole year. Baby Jesus mysteriously reappeared in the Lego bin just before Christmas the following year.

But the most notable manger issue was one poor deformed plastic camel. He wasn’t destroyed by my lively children. From the time he came out of the kid-friendly box, he was misshapen. Somehow in the factory His legs had become permanently bent and crossed, so that no matter how often you bend and heat and prop him, he never stands up for more than a short time. Yesterday, our now adult daughter had a friend come over. As we sat chatting Brodie began setting up the kiddie nativity set that I now leave out for the grandkids. She worked with that poor camel, but alas, this morning he had fallen over, and he took the two good camels down with him.

I tell you all this to remind you of some Christmas lessons.

Let the Littles play with the (preferably plastic) manger scene.

Don’t worry about a broken piece here or there on any of your decorations. It really won’t matter when they are grown.

Like my little porcelain lamb, you may feel broken. Remember that Jesus came to rescue, redeem and heal the broken.

Like my camel, you may feel crippled and useless. You aren’t. As long as God has you on this earth alive and breathing He has a purpose for you. Find that purpose: praying, encouraging, giving, writing, teaching, singing, baking, painting,… there’s something He has for you to do.

And last, but most importantly, about my missing Baby Jesus, don’t let Jesus go missing from your life for a whole year! Seek Him every day. Obey Him. Love Him. Talk with Him. Walk with Him. Enjoy His presence.

May the Spirit of the Christ child be with you this Holiday Season!

When you get married three days before Christmas it naturally creates a priority on the season! That year was a whirlwind of finishing up a college semester, last minute wedding preparations, and all the normal Christmas festivities. We split our honeymoon in two parts to make sure we were able to celebrate with both families. And that year we received two “1st Christmas together” ornaments.

Those ornaments set a tradition in motion. Every year afterward we got another ornament to add to our tree: Our Second Christmas… 10 Years Together… Silver Wedding Anniversary… and on the Christmases rolled. Sometimes we both bought each other one, and sometimes it was only one family ornament.

The ornaments are a visual diary of our family. Besides four Baby’s First Christmas ornaments, our visual diary commemorates family trips to Georgia, Texas, and California. Looking at the tree each year we see reminders of our little soccer stars, pianist, gymnast, and Disney and Star Wars fans. We can know the year they each started college just by checking through our Christmas ornaments, and when each child left home to start life as adults they have had 20-plus ornaments to start with at their own home – reminders of their life so far.

Among these ornaments that are joyous symbols are also reminders of the difficult years of life. The “Chemo Angel,” the ornaments commemorating our parents the years they passed, and even a blue, teardrop shaped ornament for a season of tears in our family.

You may find that odd, commemorating the bad times, but there is healing in facing the hard times. Those ornaments are like Ebenezer Stones reminding us how far the Lord has already brought us and that He has always been with us and carried us through some rough waters and fiery trials. We cherish these ornaments even more than the rest.

This year consider starting an ornament tradition in your family. You will be surprised with the memories they bring in years to come and the way they strengthen your faith.