Welcome to the December 6th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
The Story Of My Week
We are finding different ways to adapt to a COVID-impacted world
While talking to an older friend, he said during the period, they had converted their backyard to a vegetable garden. Over the last few months, they haven’t had to shop for vegetables.
Another friend of mine, for his daughter’s 8-year birthday, they had about 5 of her other friends and the dad taught them how to make pasta.
The girls all loved it. No party - just a learning experience.
We are all finding new ways to make the best out of this season of life.
In everything that happens, we must not lose our joy.
We must always find ways to bring joy into the everyday experiences we face.
Our joy emanates from the hope that we have in Jesus that cannot falter even in the most difficult seasons
And this is one of the seasons we need to live out that joy
Our joy must keep shining
Even in a COVID-impacted period
Things I Learnt
1-Before Christianity Became Popular: I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about the complaints by Christians that Christianity was been silenced by mainstream culture.
Perhaps because we are steeped in Christian history, we know Christians haven’t always been the superstars that the world embraces.
Across history, the Christian experience was usually frowned upon and mocked at.
It’s only in the last few years that we haven’t been treated as weird as in the past.
Now it seems to be returning
Christian voices are being canceled for expressing dissenting opinions.
We shouldn’t see it as unusual.
I know Christians in certain countries have been suffering persecution.
Cancel culture is probably not as bad as what some of them suffer - loss of income, cut off from family, imprisonments, and in certain cases, death.
“Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
1 Peter 5:9-10 NLT
We continue to hope in Jesus
2-When People Don’t Want The Truth: my psychiatrist friend told me of a certain conundrum that he faces at work.
On occasion, he has to evaluate children. From his analysis, he can see clearly that the root cause of the problem is from the parents, not the children.
If the parents addressed certain issues, the children would not be overwhelmed to need a visit to the psychiatrist
But he cannot tell the parents they are the problem. If he does, they could report him.
All he can do is treat the children and give them coping tools.
And you wonder whether the kid will not have more complicated issues when they grow up!!!
It’s a case of parents not wanting to hear the truth.
I wonder if there aren’t issues that I don’t want the truth and play the ostrich
I’m taking a deeper approach to review some aspects of my life now
No need to pretend all is well when some are unwell
But most can be made well
Only if I see all the unwell
Postscript
May you live with eyes wide open to see the areas of your life that are unwell and can be made well if you do the work. And may God’s Grace keep you joyful through it all. Amen
Tata,
Tola
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