A Thanksgiving Reflection – Thanksgiving Series – Post 3

If you have been following this blog, you know that it’s been quite the year for us – new baby girl, moved to the Boston area for a new position and through the craziness, we’ve been enjoying a wonderful transition. In the big picture perspective, all is well, I cannot complain (but that doesn’t mean I won’t :) In truth, things are good but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is gaining perspective from the tougher seasons of life and so this year, I’ve been reflecting on the virtues gained from those times.

As I said in my sermon last week, had you told me at the start of 2008 that I’d be driving a minvan home with 3 kids, I would have thought you had the wrong guy (to say it politely). Going through infertility did not just make Susan and I promise to never take children for granted. More so, it brought us closer together, which made for a stronger marriage and now a better home for our family. Initially this problem was a challenge for us to get through together, as the years went on, we saw it as something much more, this may be our reality which forced us to ask each other, “Are we enough for each other?” Through the years, we have met couples who have been through similar types of challenges and tragedies and they were encouragement to us and I hope these words are an encouragement for those who may be in need, especially during this holiday season.

Not only did Infertility make our marriage stronger, it also demanded that I confront some of my own issues. I remember being jealous of not being able to go Christmas-shopping for my own kids. I still went to Toys R’ Us and bought presents for others but there was a resentment that always needed to be confronted. There was nothing wrong with what I wanted, but as everyone knows, resentment gets rooted in the heart and reveals itself in other ways. While this isn’t a how-to post in overcoming that, I do find myself grateful for the encouraging words of friends, the soul-searching and the prayer. I’m still not sure I can honestly say that our infertility made me a better person, but the lessons learned have made for a healthier perspective.

Another aspect of life that I find myself thinking about these days is the idea that the first five years of my ministry eventually made me a s pastor. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right? Well that’s only a half-true. This is a passing thought from another reflection that I have not posted but I mention it today because the Lord did taught us much from those years. As I mentioned in the first post of this series, I learned lessons of speaking, leadership, etc. But what I am really grateful for is that those years made it clear that ministry is about “other people” and if you can’t understand that, change careers. Without sounding overly-dramatic, I’d be in denial if I didn’t admit to considering that option (in fact, I was even presented with a more lucrative career-change) but as it turned out, I really believed in this calling. I find myself grateful for this experience these days.

To those that find themselves in a tough season whether with family, ministry, vocation, life-trajectory, I hope these words offer some encouragement. There is still so much to go in life, indeed there will be tough times ahead (I know this will be true for us as well), but may we gain from them and may they lead to joyful times too.

Finally, if we can spend some time in our Thanksgiving offering prayers for those that are struggling today. May we pray for the grieving, the diseased, the depressed, the long-term unemployed, the heartbroken. Today my prayers are also with those in Egypt. Though I am thankful, I fervently pray thet God’s Kingdom be on earth as it is in heaven.

Comments

  1. Good word. Blessings to you guys…

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