In one letter, Denise wrote she had been slapped in the face for trying to help an old woman by moving an air-conditioner for her. It’s a long story, but the elderly woman didn’t like the window Denise put it in so she made her move it back several days later. What’s worse is the recipient of Denise’s charity told several people bad things about her. Her friends made it worse by saying she was too gullible. Here’s my response…
Good morning, Denise.
So what's a girl supposed to do when she tries to live out love in a hateful world? These are the perils of being selfless on a selfish planet. It’s the ongoing challenge of being a resident of Heaven, while living here on earth.
The problem is not that you are too nice or that you shouldn’t be helping people and making a difference. The problem is not even that this crazy woman is hatefully using you and accusing you while she is doing it. The problem is that it affects you in a way where you think you are the one messed up and actually pondering drawing back and not getting so involved.
Denise, you are awesome! I don’t know very many moms who would take time out of their busy day, and take their kids to an old woman’s house to see how they could make her more comfortable. Thank you for being like that. I’m just sorry it didn’t turn out like it should of.
There are some simple guidelines you can go by that will keep some of this from happening again, but what's real is there's nothing you can do to keep it from ever happening again.
Welcome to the Kingdom School of Christianity.
Reaching out, believing God for the best, living a supernatural life and making a difference in peoples lives, all involves an ugly four-letter word. R-I-S-K.
If you give your opinion, you risk being criticized, so that’s why I don’t get bothered with hate mail.
If you offer to pray for somebody, you risk not seeing that prayer answered immediately. I’ve decided to pray for people anyway because living a powerless life is not an option for me.
If you go overseas on missions’ trips, you risk untold number of things. My wife Leanna picked up a parasite in Uganda in 1998, which was not properly diagnosed until 2002. It nearly killed her but she has been back to East Africa 5 other times since then. Not only does she risk getting sick but there have been people close to her who told her she's stupid and reckless and even irresponsible for going again.
Those people don’t tell me, because I would firmly plant my first metatarsal upside their Gluteus Maximus. (In the most Christian kind of way, of course.) The prize for taking the risk is Leanna is the one that gets to tell the stories of saving children’s lives and not just hearing about it. The complainers get to be the ones complaining.
And then there is speaking the truth. Not only do you risk making people mad but also you risk really looking stupid. If you look stupid like I do from time to time, its might not be because people are being mean but because you actually said something stupid in the midst of your brilliant recital. If you talk enough and passionately enough your bound to say something less than brilliant. I’ve decided to be a Preacher anyway.
I’ve also decided that if people don’t like it, they can get over their bad self until they can preach better than I can. Ha!
I happen to think God thinks my mess-ups are funny. When my kids were little, if they fell down while learning to step, I ran to them, picked them up, left a red place on their belly from blowing on them and let them walk again. I celebrated the fact they were moving forward. My babies might not of had the approval of other toddlers but they had mine!
I would love to have the approval of people around me but I understand it’s just not going to always happen. However, I am convinced I have my Fathers approval and so do you. When people don’t appreciate your selflessness Denise, I believe God does.
The Book of Hebrews says you are surrounded by a great a cloud of witnesses. You are standing center stage in Heavens Olympic stadium. I encourage you to listen for Heavens cheers over hurtful jeers. Remain a risk taker, a selfless world changer. Be somebody who is convinced you are the good guy and appreciate those who see it. Most of the time, our Father’s business is a risky one.
Contact the Brewer @ www.FreshFromTheBrewer.com
1 comment:
Well I still help anyone who asks. I get weird looks from people that know what she said and I still hold my head up proud and dive right in to the next adventure. I didnt need to dignify anything that was said. I moved on while she stayed at her pitty party. I have to realize that by helping some people, you aleviate thier need to be needy to others. I just remember giving comes from my heart and as long as I can breath I am going to walk in the image of what God has planned for me.
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