Where Is Compassion?

Have you felt like you've been in a raging storm upon the seas of life, tossed upon the waters, beat upon by the waves, stripped by the winds and thrown against the rocks? When you first set out on your course, the sun was shining, the sea was peaceful, and you were full of dreams and zeal. Of course you knew there would be storms along the way, but the young conquering heart wasn't afraid to hit some big waves. You just had no idea where the storms would come from, how intense the winds would be, how dark the night would become.

We don't have to look far to see and hear of brokenness, of heartache, and pain, of struggling souls, fragmented relationships and hurting people. At one moment it seems like it is way out yonder. Then you blink and you are in the midst of it. The storm seemed to rather have come out of nowhere.  

Not one of us is exempt from the effects of this sin cursed world. Physical ailments, terminal illnesses, spiritual warfare, emotional distress, struggling souls, moral decay, and wounded, bleeding hearts hardly scratches the surface of the fallen world in which we live. We all have storms and battles we face, and many, if not all of us have some battles we don't share about. To share oftentimes leaves us open and vulnerable to misunderstandings, critical spirits, and judgmental attitudes. We withdraw to seek protection, or cover up in public with laughter and gaiety, while back behind closed doors the anguished, burdened heart is breaking in two. In these times, we have a Saviour who has been touched by the feelings of our infirmities. He is not a distant God, but close at hand to enfold His child in His loving, comforting embrace.  

What is possibly the most difficult thing of going through a storm is the critical, judgments of those who think they know it all, and have all the answers. I imagine we have been on both sides due to our humanity. 

In our limited understanding of what another troubled soul is going through, we often come to quick conclusions and answers. Some may be accurate, but many times it's not all black and white as we may think. Over the years, I have come to see my own limited understanding of a situation or circumstance. How many times I thought I had the answer in my mind, not realizing how complicated a matter can be. We can be so quick to judge a person's "less than best" decision or any number of situations. We can be callous and quick to say, "I saw that coming" or "Well, what did they expect?" 

 Jesus says in Matthew 11 to "learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart. Romans 12:3 "For this I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

We all fail. We all stumble. We all have a daily battle against sin, self, the world, and the devil. We are all susceptible to be overtaken in a fault. And here is the beauty of the gospel: We can all reach out and touch the hem of Jesus' garment in our weakest of times. Jesus is meek (gentle) and lowly in heart. He who knows it all and could have much to say in light of any given situation, offence, tribulation, entanglement of sin, or heartache simply says "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." This is the beauty of Christ! He sees our human frailty and weakness and His heart churns with compassion and pity upon us. Not only does His touch of deep love and compassion bring strength and healing, it stirs us up to overcome. 

But what about us? When we see a fellow Christian battered and torn by a raging storm, or sinner groping in sin, or a wayward sheep that has lost its way- does our heart churn with the same love, pity and compassion for that person? And here is another angle to look at: what if they are not necessarily struggling- but simply on a different page than you or I? Perhaps they apply practical Scriptural teaching in a different way than you or I would. Perhaps they don't have the same convictions as we do. Are we so high minded that we struggle to fellowship with them? Do we think we have the answers or the corner on a particular subject? Do we walk with a chip on our shoulder and feel we need to drill certain "truths" whenever we have a chance to "speak into someone's life?" Maybe we don't say it outright to them, but nonetheless we think it, and may even tell another what "so and so" is doing wrong and what they ought to be doing differently. There is a phrase from a movie we sometimes like to quote in a fun, emphatic tone: "That's not Christian!" But really, isn't it oftentimes too true the way our "self" always wants to be right, and how often we put others down. May God help us!   

Have we taken the time to learn of Christ? Have we learned His meek and lowly heart of love to the point it has become our own? Do we allow ourselves to be touched by the infirmities of others without trying to "fix them"? May we walk with the gentle and lowly heart of Christ towards one another remembering that we are ALL equal at the foot of the cross. 

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another". John 13:35

 

The Humble Home

I am forever grateful to have grown up in a humble home. Nothing was extravagant. Most all our clothing and furniture were second hand. My parents first living room furniture lasted over 20 yrs. It was well worn when it was finally time to replace it. It was a big deal when we got linoleum for the kitchen floor. I have sweet memories of scrubbing that floor with my mom as a little girl, and the rewarding feeling of seeing it shine! But as the years wore on, so did the linoleum. It was quite worn through in large areas when we moved away from our little home. Mom didn't have the finest curtains or rugs, but they were still fine in her estimation. She never went to Kmart or Ames to get the next newest kitchen gadget or switch out her bathroom towels for a new look or because they didn't all match perfectly. 

Eating out was a special occassion, and generally with grandparents. What a treat to stay overnight at their place and go to the 61 diner for breakfast, but also what a special treat for grandma to make us her own fried hashbrowns and great grandma's Hungarian thin pancakes. 

A new vehicle in our family was unheard of, and Dad would be the one to do all the mechanicle work when the car or truck broke down.

 Because we didn't make eating out, or new clothes or time at the mall a regular, we appreciated those special things all the more when we did get them. It was a big deal when we all piled into the car to go to JCPenny's for new shoes! 

Of course, there was a point in time that I wished we would have newer, nicer things. But in time, I came to see the wisdom my parents had in living with simple means, and strive to do the same. I have easily and many times got caught up in what I "need" or want for setting up house. Many beautiful things catch my eye in the stores. 

Today, as I have my own home, I sometimes have to remind myself that the stains on the carpet or our mixed match furniture is not everything in life.

 I have stayed in many homes over the years. Some were humble dwellings with mixed match dinnerware, well worn furnishings and decorated with simple charm. There may be an old quilt with patches hanging on the back of a chair. The lamp shades may be old and cracking.There is nothing fancy, but the people who live in these homes are warm and friendly, and want to make you feel at home.These are homes you can be comfortable and relaxed in. 

Then there are other homes that I have been in that are well to do. They are breathtaking. Bedroom suites so lovely, you feel rather like royalty staying in these homes. However, it is so "home and garden magazine cover perfect" that you can't relax should you spoil the sofa by sitting on it. Oftentimes, not always, but oftentimes the people in these homes are not as warm and friendly as the people in the humble homes. The hospitality was kind, but something was lacking. You walk away empty. Though these homes had everything materially beautiful, that was all it was. The people didn't sit and visit the same as the people in the humble homes, and it often seemed that status is what mattered most to them. Again, this is not across the board, but is just what I have observed to often be true. They possibly had no idea the overriding atmosphere there home permeated.

The warmest and friendliest people have been the ones who use material things as resources to be used to bless and serve a purpose. The happiest homes are ones with the well worn floors and furnishings that only add to the warmth and comfort of the home, and should a dish slip from a child's hand, it won't be the end of the world should it break. The dwellers of these homes genuinely care about the people around them. These people I have observed are often the happiest and most content. These are homes I look forward to visiting again and again - the well worn homes where love and warmth permeates - and that I aspire to make my own home like. 

Welcome!

 Welcome to Honeysuckle for the Soul! What a joy to have you pop in here when there are so many other places you can be. 

Growing up, we loved taking spring walks at my grandparent's place in the country. They had an abundance of wild honeysuckle and we always looked forward to the time it would come into bloom and just soak in the sweet aroma that permeated through the air. You could never get too much of it! All too soon the blooms would fade away, and a twinge of sadness would come over us that it would be another whole year before we'd take in the sweet aroma again.

The lives of people that have touched me most were like honeysuckle to my soul. The sweet aroma of the Gospel of Jesus Christ permeated their lives, and you'd just want to keep going back for more. Honeysuckle for the Soul will be a place of musings, reflections and aspirations towards living a life and making a home that becometh the gospel of Jesus -a sweet smelling savor that touches hearts and lives for eternity.

I hope that if you come back to visit this page, you will always leave feeling refreshed and encouraged in your own soul.

Blessed Quietness

I was out working in my flowerbed the other day. It was good to be outside getting my hands in dirt, hearing the birds sing their merry tunes and enjoy a refreshing breeze every now and then as I worked under the warm sun. What blessed quietness to be home, to leave the phone behind, to meditate on the Scripture and bring my cares to the Lord.

My thoughts went to a time some years ago when the Lord pulled me away from friends and all the drama of a social-buzzing life. It was a time of healing and restoration - perhaps the sweetest time of life for me to be taken to the side to learn of Him, to walk with Him, to know Him as never before - away from everything and everyone. It was sweet times in the garden of talking with my dad, learning from him as he shared the meditations of his heart, and Bible truths relating to the farmer and gardening; and the value of 1 Thess.4:11 "study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands."

Fellowship with others, and especially the saints is precious, but how I love the refreshing moments of drawing away from all the goings on - be it the phone, news, or the latest happenings that tend towards gossip that only bring our spirits down and oftentimes hurt others. Now, like my dad, I often find myself drawing away from everything for those refreshing moments of meditating on the Word, taking my cares and the burdens of others to the Lord in prayer, and being strengthened in spirit as I work with my hands and mind my own business. This is blessed quietness.