i recently finished reading two books: hinds feet on high places, and it's follow up: mountains of spices. the books are about a girl, "much afraid" and her choice to follow the Good Shepard to the Mountian of Love. the journey is full of dangerous trails and cliffs, impossible climbs, and long stretches that seem to take her further from the mountain top. the Good Shepard ask her to trust Him and the path He chose for her to get there. Her original state is described as "crippled" (totally not p.c., but this book was written a "long" time ago) as she had a crooked mouth and "deformed feet". after her journey in the first book, her name is changed to "Grace and Glory". read the books, seriously. Hinds Feet first. then Mountains of Spices which tells the story of her returning to her home, "the valley of humiliation" to bare witness to her abusive and lost family (with names like Craven Fear, Gloomy, Dismal Forebodings...).
i think about the new names we receive when our lives become no longer about ourselves, when we look upward and not inward, when we seek His will opposed to our wants. we go from "offense to joy", "anger to love", "pride to humbleness", and so on. i thought of this during a casual conversation i had today with a coworker. we were chatting about something, and i ended up telling a story about this time my husband and i were getting ready to go out and i put on one of my favorite dresses and leggings. when he saw me he laughed and asked if that was what i was wearing, and i affirmed this. he told me he thought it was a little short, that it's great for around the house, as he likes it, but he didn't think he'd be comfortable with me wearing this out in public. it was mid-thigh, and i honestly did not see what the issue was. we went back and forth for a bit, and i never did agree that it was "short", but i ended up changing anyway because it was important to him, and my opinion didn't give him more comfort with the length (lack of) my dress. after telling this story to my coworker, she laughed and said that if that was her, she would have changed into something even shorter. i explained that i wasn't offended, and in marriage, you honor each other, and your body is not just yours anymore, but your partner's. she insisted that she thought it was absurd that a man or anyone should be able to tell her what to do/wear/say, etc. i told her that i knew that i didn't have it all together, that i desired to surround myself with those who inspire me to be a better person. i loved to have those who i am inspired by surrounding me, giving me thoughts and insights, helping me in those areas i need to grow in, helping me to see what is most glorifying, ultimately, to God. i humbly stated that i knew i wasn't the best person and that i wanted people to help me become better, more honoring, more loving.
there is so much that pride kills. it not only cuts down, but it prevents growth, it prevents love from becoming the most prevalent feature of our lives. it tells us: who are they to tell you what to do?! who is He to make you all stuffy and boring, who are they to lovingly correct and admonish you? you be your own person! you do what you want! don't let them change you! i want to be changed though. i want to be changed daily.
Pride is not a name He gives. i have no need to defend myself because i am still being transformed, i am still going from glory to glory (2 corinthians 3:18), but mostly, because He is my defense. it seems foolish to those who do not know, who are perishing, but to those who know, those who have new names, it is the power of God (1 corinthians 1:18). and we must speak love when others claim our foolishness. how can we know the joy of having a new name, and yet not was so desperately for others to receive theirs?!
when we respond, it must always be in love, a sweet love in response to a poking joke, a jesting quip, even outright judgement. in what ever critical situation, what ever rejection, what ever discomfort or attack, rather real or perceived, if our response is one of love, when all other human logic tells us to strike back, argue, or return judgement for judgement, that is the hope of Christ in us. this is our new name, our new name we wear like a badge on our hearts. allowing yourself to be open for jest, judgement, for others to think you are crazy, this is the freedom that allows other to see a transformed heart implanted by our Creator Himself, it allows others to see that a life lived where the main focus is the One who wrote our stories and designed the skies is possible, but not only possible, but freeing. He can breath life into dirt, and He can change hearts and give new names.
keep your pinky promise to be open and listen to differing thoughts and opinions. it's not personal, it's love.
always remember the fun times, the dreams, the hopes.
i think about the new names we receive when our lives become no longer about ourselves, when we look upward and not inward, when we seek His will opposed to our wants. we go from "offense to joy", "anger to love", "pride to humbleness", and so on. i thought of this during a casual conversation i had today with a coworker. we were chatting about something, and i ended up telling a story about this time my husband and i were getting ready to go out and i put on one of my favorite dresses and leggings. when he saw me he laughed and asked if that was what i was wearing, and i affirmed this. he told me he thought it was a little short, that it's great for around the house, as he likes it, but he didn't think he'd be comfortable with me wearing this out in public. it was mid-thigh, and i honestly did not see what the issue was. we went back and forth for a bit, and i never did agree that it was "short", but i ended up changing anyway because it was important to him, and my opinion didn't give him more comfort with the length (lack of) my dress. after telling this story to my coworker, she laughed and said that if that was her, she would have changed into something even shorter. i explained that i wasn't offended, and in marriage, you honor each other, and your body is not just yours anymore, but your partner's. she insisted that she thought it was absurd that a man or anyone should be able to tell her what to do/wear/say, etc. i told her that i knew that i didn't have it all together, that i desired to surround myself with those who inspire me to be a better person. i loved to have those who i am inspired by surrounding me, giving me thoughts and insights, helping me in those areas i need to grow in, helping me to see what is most glorifying, ultimately, to God. i humbly stated that i knew i wasn't the best person and that i wanted people to help me become better, more honoring, more loving.
there is so much that pride kills. it not only cuts down, but it prevents growth, it prevents love from becoming the most prevalent feature of our lives. it tells us: who are they to tell you what to do?! who is He to make you all stuffy and boring, who are they to lovingly correct and admonish you? you be your own person! you do what you want! don't let them change you! i want to be changed though. i want to be changed daily.
Pride is not a name He gives. i have no need to defend myself because i am still being transformed, i am still going from glory to glory (2 corinthians 3:18), but mostly, because He is my defense. it seems foolish to those who do not know, who are perishing, but to those who know, those who have new names, it is the power of God (1 corinthians 1:18). and we must speak love when others claim our foolishness. how can we know the joy of having a new name, and yet not was so desperately for others to receive theirs?!
when we respond, it must always be in love, a sweet love in response to a poking joke, a jesting quip, even outright judgement. in what ever critical situation, what ever rejection, what ever discomfort or attack, rather real or perceived, if our response is one of love, when all other human logic tells us to strike back, argue, or return judgement for judgement, that is the hope of Christ in us. this is our new name, our new name we wear like a badge on our hearts. allowing yourself to be open for jest, judgement, for others to think you are crazy, this is the freedom that allows other to see a transformed heart implanted by our Creator Himself, it allows others to see that a life lived where the main focus is the One who wrote our stories and designed the skies is possible, but not only possible, but freeing. He can breath life into dirt, and He can change hearts and give new names.
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keep your pinky promise to be open and listen to differing thoughts and opinions. it's not personal, it's love.
always remember the fun times, the dreams, the hopes.
