I LEARNED at a very young age that I shouldn’t grumble or complain, but I did it anyway. As I grew older I argued with my mother. She didn’t spank me anymore but even so, her fuse was short and she could make me feel that I was getting in the heat of it, just by her look! It doesn’t take a person long to realize when they are in over their heads. I have always had an inquisitive and argumentative nature. If I didn’t want to do something I would grumble all the way. Talking back always had its consequences, and not knowing when to stop was even worse. But doing nothing also comes with problems!
AS A highschool Sunday School teacher and leader of the Youth Group, I met a brother and sister. The girl was absolutely beautiful to look at. She had long dark, beautiful hair, dark eyes with thick lashes and beautifully shaped eye brows. Her brother was fairly quiet compared to her and he was not filled with as much hatred as she was. Both of them expressed their dislike of their mother and father. The sister didn’t care who heard her verbal tirades, and how awful the parents were, and how much she hated them. I tried to talk with her but she couldn’t listen because her heart was filled with hatred, it encompassed her whole being.
ONE EVENING during a family conflict, she ran into heavily, moving traffic, and was killed. Jim and I were on our way home from church and happened upon the situation and took the youngest of the family to a friend while the parents went to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. We went to be with this devastated Mom and Dad. We found them sitting beside their beautiful daughter stroking her hair, caressing her arm, and with tears already dried on their cheeks, talking lovingly to her because, now they could; she couldn’t yell back at them.
DURING the short time we knew this family, it was difficult for us to see why the teenager hated their parents so, and how devastated the parents were at her death. The parents arranged three different services for this girl, not to mention the day long viewing. We attended all of them! I often thought they did this because they could shower love and attention on a daughter that couldn’t rebel anymore! Their love was able to overshadow the hatred!
WE ARE ALL familiar with the story of the Israelites and how they would grumble and complain and how God continually supplied all their needs. We remember how they would praise and thank Him and then would turn against Him with more grumbling and complaining. God would send disease and much trouble amongst them to get their attention and they would repent and return to Him, for a time. Over and over again God would be patient, but in the long run, they were no longer His chosen people. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life! John 3:16 God sent His Son and opened His arms to the whole world!
THE WORLD that God sent His Son for, is in utter chaos! Those who have chosen Jesus as their Savior are being executed by those who call their god Allah! They feel no shame because they are filled with hatred! Satan loves hatred! Satan acts like a roaring Lion, seeking all he may devour! My heart aches for those who are being persecuted and murdered right in front the eyes of the world. What can we do? Where can we go? Where is our safe harbor?
PSALMS 23 gives us the peace that passes all understanding! "Jesus is our shepherd; our grass is green. We walk by still waters; our souls are renewed. Our trust is in Him! As we walk in the shadow of death, and evil is all around us, we are comforted by His presence! His promises are true and sure; His goodness and mercy walks with us! We are only passing through, in this life, for our home is in the Lord’s house" My prayer is that those who are standing firm, and are suffering in the balance, will grow stronger in the Lord, day by day! Oh how our hearts ache; Come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen! By Jane Ann Crenshaw (5/12/08) 8/30/14
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