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As I scurried around, preparing for the move to western Canada, there was one thought always at the forefront of my mind: God was moving us out west so that we could be near family!
The thing is, I already know that my western kids, who pastor a large church out there, lead really busy lives. Their priority is to work for the Lord, as well it should be! When God gives us a purpose, we would be best served to do it: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..." (Eccl. 9:10 NASB)! But wait. Would there be time in their lives for aging parents? Especially when one was already in a nursing home?
It wasn't long before I had convinced myself that they simply didn't have time to worry about their parents. This idea quickly morphed to, "God, why are You moving us out there to be with the kids? They don't have time for us!" I know this sounds like such a selfish thought, but I'm just being honest with you...
One day, as I was stressing about being a burden to our kids, I said out loud, "God, the kids don't have time for us! Why are You taking us out there? Did I mis-read all of Your messages about where You want us to be? Because, Lord," and I repeated myself, just for emphasis, "the kids really don't have time for us!"
The response was immediate, loud and clear. It wasn't so much a voice, as it was a "rewriting" of my thoughts. It was like God had pressed the "insert" key over the top of what I was saying, because the words out of my mouth, the ones that were supposed to say, "the kids don't have time for us," came out, "It isn't about what they can do for you; it's about what YOU can do for ME!!!"
Whoa! Now that was a complete and total reset of my thinking! But it makes total sense. God wasn't moving us out west so that we could be served by our kids; He was moving us out west so that we could serve ... Him!
I often think about how hard this must have been on David. It was his dream to build a temple of the Lord, yet God was putting the responsibility on someone else. Did he wonder how Solomon would have the time? I mean, running a kingdom would take a lot of time and energy! I often wonder if David felt a little bit like ... me! Like God was putting a huge responsibility on someone else, when David would have been happy to have taken it on himself!
We can learn a great lesson from David's response. He didn't wash his hands of the temple. Even though he couldn't build it himself, he set out to make the task as light as possible for his son. David said, "'My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and glorious throughout the lands. Therefore I now will make preparations for it.' So David made ample preparations before his death." (1 Chron. 22:5 NASB)
The point is, we aren't here on earth to bring glory to ourselves. We aren't even here on earth to be served. We are here on earth to serve! In whatever way possible! I still don't have a clear picture of what it will all look like for us out west, but I know one thing for certain: It isn't about me, it's about Others! My job is to help further the work of the Lord, no matter where I find myself or what country, state or province I find myself in!
What about you?
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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