Sowing without reaping

Still top in my thoughts these days are my daughter's two adorable foster girls. They will be turning 2 and 3 next month. They have brought us such joy. Both are very busy yet they will let you hold them for a moment and snuggle. They have smiles that melt hearts and when they look at you, you know their thoughts are deeper than they can verbalize.

We have now been warned that we may only have the gift of knowing and loving these girls for another month. It wasn't supposed to be this way. We were told that the odds of them going back to the mother were slim and that there were no other family members to take them in. My daughter and her spouse planned on adopting. Losing these little loves was not in the plans and barely considered, though we know that it is not over until it's over.

What my daughter's family has done is to love and nourish these girls when their mother could not. They have spent many a night up with them when they couldn't or wouldn't sleep. They have changed their diapers, fed them, played with them and read to them. They have tried to teach them the things all little ones must learn--sharing, saying please and thank you, be gentle with animals, helping with chores, picking up toys, potty training, etc. They even taught them some sign language. They took them to the weekly meetings with the mother and other appointments they needed to go to. They shopped for clothes and other things as needed. They took them to the beach and vacation and other fun activities.

The other children adapted as these two new girls moved into their home. They had to share the attention but they were great helpers and learned to be friends and protective older "siblings" to these two precious children.

They have all given of themselves. And now the bombshell. They have to know that the ripples of their lives have played an enormous part in the girls' well-being and development but they will never see them again or have any influence on their lives. They have to hope and pray that the foundations that they planted will be instilled in them, yet, at this young age, these girls will never remember any of us, All the love that came from the bottom of our hearts and the seeds that were planted, all smiles and giggles shared will never be remembered by them, but always remembered fondly by all of us.

Likewise, the mother of these children should be eternally grateful that there was a loving family that did more for her children than she will probably ever know and that those ripples were a catalyst in her life to get the help she needed to be an adequate mom. When she couldn't teach or take care of her children, someone did so and very well, as she picked up the pieces of her life. Now we pray that she can protect and provide for these little ones as much as they deserve. May they be safe, cared for and loved. 

The seeds have been sowed. Often we will not know the effects of our ripples and even those who we touched will not even know where this ripple has come from, but it is always there in the waters of life. 

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Hebrews 13:16

"The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost." G.K. Chesterson

What are your actions saying?

This post might sting. Why do you go to church? To worship, to hear God's word, to confess sin, to take part in communion, to pray, to fellowship? All are valid reasons. Going to church is in a way, noble. Most likely you are in the minority of your co-workers and maybe of your friends too. You give up an hour or so of your two days off during the week or maybe it's only one day off, to go to worship God. That is admirable and yet...

Just going and sitting may be cleansing for your soul or bring you closer to God for the day, but what are the lasting affects of your Sunday worship? Not only for yourself but for others? How long into the week before you slip into the worldly ways?

You are a precious gemstone of God and your ripples affect others, even when you do nothing. When you deny knowing God or omit God from your conversation, you are fortifying the enemy's position. It is sad that we can feel embarrassed by our beliefs. We know to some, it is a far fetched idea of a man being God and dying and coming back to life. It sounds like science fiction and some will mock us for that. But there may be those who want to know more about your beliefs and the opportunity is not there when you are silent and they don't know they can talk to you about it. Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

But the ripple affect I mostly want to address here is when you go to church and nothing else. When you don't become involved, the ripple of your life is touching someone else, making them get more involved to pick up your slack. They may already be wearing several hats. Does not James 2:17 apply to you? "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." What works do you do? Is your faith dead?

We all know the excuses, I don't have time, someone else is better than me at that (my personal go to excuse), maybe even, I don't want to. Do you want to go to work? Do you want to reprimand your child? Do you want to house train your dog or clean out the kitty litter? Do you not benefit from being paid by your job? Do you not have joy knowing you are raising a child properly, do you not love your pet? We have many things we don't want to do, but we have to and there are rewards that often outweigh the task. Sometimes, we may find we even enjoy the task, walking the dog, playing with our children and maybe enjoying our career.

We use the phrase, "what would Jesus do" for the tough issues, but how about the small? Would he go to church and sit and leave? Or would he bring food for the food shelter collection? Clothes for the needy? Items for Operation Christmas child and missionary needs? Would he help with church clean up and other service projects? Would he greet, usher or set up coffee? We know he would teach. If you ask, "What would Jesus do?", Yes, he was a teacher, but I contend that if he washed feet, I believe he would have done all of these things. Are we better than him that we don't want to serve others? How can we show our love but by serving? If your heart is in the right place, serving should become a natural reaction and when you think there is no way for you to serve, ask God and doors will open. Galatians 6:7-10: "Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." By serving God, not only will you reap the benefits but so will others.

Actions speak. What are your actions saying?