A blessing and not a curse

It is interesting to see how the old Greek myths and the Old Testament have a very similar account of the creation of the world. They both begin with the heaven and the earth made in sequence, ending in the creation of man. But there is where their similarities depart. The Old Testament talks about how God made Eve to be a gift to Adam, his helper and companion. The ancient Greeks however taught that woman was made to punish man for stealing from the gods.

It's interesting how these two thoughts speak so much into the dichotomy that I feel within me.

You see deep down in the depths of my heart I believe that God created me to be a wife and to be a mother. He created me to be a helper to stand beside and be faithful. I believe that God has created me to be someone who cares deeply about the lives of others and knowing how to encourage them.

But then I wonder, do I have the capability to be loved? Am I worthy, or will I just hurt others instead. Do I only look at my own interests or do I look at others. Am I a curse or a punishment?

I don't think that Christ sees me as a punishment or a curse but as his bride. I belong to him. He wants me to love him and love his children. He sees into the depths of my heart and wants it to be whole. He sees who I am, who I was and who I will be, and while he continues to encourage me to grow he still takes me just as I am. Even on the days that I tell him that he is not enough for me and that I want more, he lets me know that he is all I will ever need.

Maybe someday he will give me the desires of my heart, and maybe not. All I know is that to every person I encounter I want to show others that I am a blessing and not a curse.

Love is Patient

I have been very careful to follow the golden rule of Christianity, you know the one, never pray for patience because if you do God will give you a reason to be patient. I promise you I haven't prayed for patience, but I think that is the lesson I am learning anyways. How to be patient.

I have never been one to be patient. I want to see results and I want to see them now. I am great at starting new projects only to leave them when I don't see progress soon enough. I have dozens of quilts, and knitting projects just screaming to be finished yet I already know what project I want to start next.

Instead of praying for the patience I know I lacked I prayed instead that I would learn to love.

Funny thing about love though, love takes patience. So the first thing you think about is I Corinthians 13 right. Favorite passage of weddings everywhere. So right before this iconic verse, Paul is talking about some divisions in the church. They had been fighting over what spiritual gift was more important. So what does Paul say? Get over yourselves and learn how to love each other, and this is what it looks like. It's putting other people before yourself. It's being patient.

So what does that mean, I'm being given a lesson in patience, even though I didn't ask for it. I don't like it and it has been hard but I know it will make me a better person. The funny thing about this lesson in patience, it has been teaching me that I am in crazy love with my God.