Tuesday, April 12, 2011

according to the graces we have received

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
Mother Teresa

The last several days have been of the more difficult variety for the Heartline family. We've been experiencing some discouragement. Some of us (me) have found our focus on the things that are not going well. Last week while visitors were in town we were dealing with drama and heartache and trying to make wise decisions under lots of pressure. Yesterday Troy and John and Beth and I met to discuss and pray about some of the discouragement and to try to re-frame the things that have been disheartening.  John is always good for a mini sermon any time we're facing discouragement.  If you can get past his Boston accent a lot of times he says some really wise things. He reminded us for the bazillionth time that if we are faithful to do the day to day things, faithful to stick to the slow work, faithful to show up and try, that the results are not up to us. We must do our best and when our best doesn't result in the outcome we so hoped and prayed for we must trust God with it and continue on.