We are taught growing up to love one another. Be kind to others, do good to those that hurt us. Shine our light for all to see and in doing this, others will desire the love that we pour on them. A love that can only comes from Jesus. His perfect love. We allow God to work in us, and the love pours all over others.
I grew up in an unchurched community. It is safe to say that I got my first Christian friend in Bible College. My parents taught me to love like Jesus does. I followed their humble example. I made many non-believing friends but they knew I loved Jesus…they didn’t have to wonder. And it came to be expected that for certain circumstances, no matter what I would have liked to do, I tried to follow my Jesus and my friends, in fact, encouraged me to do so!
And now, I live in a ‘believing bubble’. It should be picturesque considering where I am from. I have witnessed much heart ache, and loss growing up. With tears in my eyes, I’m at a loss now, not only at how badly believers treat each other but the lack of desire there is to shine a light to our community. I have lived in this town for 7 years to the week. Trying to make friends when friends are already made, was next to impossible. I wish that this community could walk in others shoes, and realize how difficult it is…unless you have the family connections or that certain X factor, many do not feel God’s love or feel welcome. I have many examples of people feeling this way and it is my God-given passion that others may feel, not only welcomed but loved here. I am not looking for others to pat my back and say good job….God calls us all to love.
Love everyone.
Period.
I heard of a community where a family moved to recently. The wife and mother of 3 is pretty, talkative and outgoing and is so excited to meet other ladies/moms from her new area. After asking many to come out to meet her on a certain evening for a hosting party, which was low key and no pressure to buy but to show interest in someone new in town. She was so excited to making her new area home and meeting new friends soon. Well, nobody showed up! How horrible! How embarrassing for the host and for this new neighbour. The community chose not to step out of their comfort zone. Everyone had reasons why that it didn’t work to come out. Nobody called to send their regrets. The host was in clean up mode and had a demanding baby to deal with all day, on top of babysitting, running errands, taking the kids to the library, cleaning her house and making supper, all after school. The difference was that she made the time for her. Life is busy enough and incredible emotionally draining…but one woman made the time.
How do you think this woman feels today? Welcomed in her new community? Let’s shine our light and love each person who enters our ‘world’. We messed up by not introducing ourselves. If it was our own party, our homes would have bursting at the seams…does that seem fair?
6 comments:
I have to say that I might be a little guilty in this area. I had lost all self-confidence when I went through my teen pregnancy and I always feel like other will just look at me as a subject for the next gossip circle. I have always loved people and I always want people to love me. After reading your post, I relize that I should step out and be the happy, welcoming person that God created me to be. Others need the love that I'm serching for too. Why can't I be that for them?
You are a gem. Thank you for opening my eye's.
That was an awesome post!! And so very true, especially in town it is as though everyone assumes that you know someone else and that you have friends in the area. I felt incredibly lonely when we first moved to this area and it was others who opened up their homes to me so that I felt like I belonged, and those people are still my closest friends today. I am wondering now who in my neighborhood is needing a friend and they might just be one of my closest friends just waiting to happen!
Like Candy said, you are a gem...if you were here I'd give you a big hug!!
Let your heart shine girl!!
candy- thats a lot of pain your carried and oh, gossip just hurts so bad! I truly believe that God gives us certain times in our lives to help us love and understand where others are coming from. God loves you and has created you to do just that.
Louise- it sure is tough fitting in. It was 4 years after i moved to my home when I had my first coffee morning...i left like a fly on the wall until then. and i came from a energetic apartment of 4 crazy loud and bubbly friends that wanted to be with me to feeling invisible. it is my goal that no one will feel this pain i had....but i sure can't do it alone nor without God's guidance and push cuz it sures doesn't come naturally!
This has been a subject on my heart many times--I have been the new one in town so many times -- and it is such an exhausting process!!! I had to surrender it constantly and trust that God would provide the friendship that I needed. That was really hard at times when I was so lonely. But each time He provided. My times of "alone" almost always turned out to be HUGE growth times for me and I now see that He was preparing me for something great.
On the flip side--I still struggle sometimes with "putting myself out there" -- you would think at 30 I wouldn't be afraid of rejection--but often I still am. Sad, I know.
One example--some time after I moved here....a lady from my church called for some church business--and we seemed to have a good conversation--we have daughters the same age--anyways, I told her I would love to get together sometime and let our children play. And she told me basically that she already had friends and just really didn't make time for new ones!!!! I was in shock at this response.
But it happens all the time--not so directly usually.
May the Lord open my eyes to the ones around me that need friendship. Thanks for the sweet reminder.
How has our lives gotten so busy that we are so isolated and busy for one another???
Oh how sad! And what a humble reminder about including people in our busy lives. Man, you wonder, where is the love? Thanks for the reminder to include people and to search out those that maybe feel on the fringes. Everyone deserves to have a special friend and feel like they have a place to belong.
I'm glad that you wrote this.
Always a good reminder to reach out to others and extend His love, even when we don't feel like it. I often feel too busy or too tired, but that's no excuse, everyone is in the same boat.
Certain communities especially seem to have a hard time letting outsiders in. I am very thankful that our community has not been that way, at least not that I've noticed. This has perhaps made me a bit lethargic in the hospitality area.
We have recently determined to do more hosting, but we need to remember to not just host church people, but also community people.
I am sorry that you had to experience that isolation. Love is definitely the answer!
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