Hmmm… as I was singing this song for the last several weeks to prepare for my children’s Sunday School Christmas play I didn’t really think anything of it. It was today, that it struck me. Maybe it was in between bathing screaming children that seem to have an innate desire to just be unhappy today or trying to clean up yet another mess left by one of the little people. In any event, out of the blue this song starts in my head and I begin to sing it. Truthfully it could have been my own coping method to sing/chant instead of pulling my hair out.
In any event, I began to be aware of what I was doing and started to listen to the lyrics and it hit me.. Duh, if I don’t have peace how can I possibly give it away or receive it! Of course the little fighter that lives in me began defending all the reasons why I don’t have peace. You know the typical things like so and so did this to me and when they apologize I will have peace. Or when I lose all this weight, then Peace will be mine.
You know what? It’s a bunch of garbage and excuses. There will never be a time that peace will just appear without doing me doing my part. Recently, on a Joyce Meyer broadcast (I recommend all of them) she was discussing this very issue. Her comment was something to the effect of you need to pursue peace in order to have it.
Being the season of reflecting on the past, I realize, regrettably that there were many lost opportunities that I had to actively pursue peace. It might have been in small ways like saying NO to another playdate, or obligation. However, in most of my cases, it could have been to just keep my mouth shut instead of actively pursuing being right in a situation. I also see that my own issues with my weight caused me to lose peace within myself.
Ironically, my son played the Angel of Peace in the Christmas Play that prompted this post. On of his lines was from John 16:33 which says,“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”. Phew! What a relief, to know that God does want us to have peace and it is mine for the takeing.
As this year closes and a new one approaches, I am resolving to actively pursue peace in the New Year and I encourage you all to do the same!
May God Bless you and your family!
With gratitude,
Wendy
Love this post Wendy. You are such beautiful woman of God. We all struggle with this in one form or another. It's awesome though that you can put it to words and give us all one of those duh.. moments. Love ya!!
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Teresa...
ReplyDeleteThank you for that! xoxo. Its nice to be at peace with being transparent. It certainly makes it easier when there are other women, like you that are there to hear/read me and still love me anyways. :)
with gratitude,
wendy