Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Privileged Position

From Elisabeth Elliot (A Lamp For My Feet):
""I have glorified Thee on the earth'' (Jn 17:4 AV), He said--and that glory was manifested through weakness, loss, and suffering. What a privileged position we are called to share.

Lord, lift up our eyes, away from ourselves and our small losses, up to that glory yet to be revealed. Teach us that it is only out of weakness that we are made strong, only as we suffer that we may reign, only as we lose that we may gain."

Though I'm often tempted to look at my day and week as a tally sheet of wins/losses and ups/downs. . . I know that is not what my life is. It's a mysterious commodity to have what we give up and to gain what we lose. My limited perspective and finite understanding are far too small to comprehend what the Lord of all the earth deems right! Only can I trust and lift up my eyes to His glory. . . then my weakness and all the losses and loneliness and disappointments are privileged, that I might share with Jesus.

And so, these too are gifts. I continue giving thanks:
518) The people who didn't show up to see the house
519) The canceled trip for us to look at homes in Richmond
520) Market competition across the street
521) Sickness of loved ones
522) Canceled orders

2 comments:

Craig said...

I’m here from Ann’s, I know it’s Saturday morning – I mean new thank you lists are out just the day after tomorrow, but there are a whole bunch of thank you counters to read. First, I heart this!! “My limited perspective and finite understanding are far too small to comprehend what the Lord of all the earth deems right!” If I haven’t written it myself – I’ve at least thought it so often. We are the clay – he is the potter.

From your thank you’s I especially liked: well – I take them all because as Ann says, if we only count the “good” we’ve miscounted. (◠‿◠) I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you.

God Bless and keep you and your family

Cheryl said...

You are so beautiful! I LOVE reading your blog! Being a HS mommy of 5 I love to hear the daily life sagas of my fellow HS mommies of 5. = )