A Circle of Three

Come To The Well

There is that passage in the Bible that says that our hearts should be broken by the things that break the heart of God. All of us who work in Ministry I believe can attest that every day someone crosses our path that reminds us of the need to be merciful and to look at them through the eyes of Jesus.

Today I had a homeless woman walk in who was dirty and unkept...she was much older than our usual clients, but was concerned that she might be pregnant. She told me that she had been incarcerated for almost 3 years, has a history of alcoholism and her belly was growing...to her that was a sign that she was pregnant. A woman who had already borne 6 children who had all been taken away from her. Was my heart broken? Yes. I can't even begin to fathom the pain of losing one child never mind six.

I did the pregnancy test and it was negative...she was sad. Was she sad because she thought maybe this time things could have a different ending or was she sad because she is realizing that she might never have the chance again to mother a child. I don't know.

I explained to her that maybe she is going through menopause, but because her belly was so distended I advised her to seek medical attention. She told me thats she didn't trust doctors and would just "wait" and see what happens. She thanked me profusely for talking to her and left to go back to her life on the street. The pain in her eyes I will remember for days to come.

So many women struggling with addictions and so few places to give them the help that they really need. I have watched this with "Marie" who is a crack addict and 8 months pregnant. She has been offered love by all of us, she has been offered Rehab and yet she chooses her addiction and wrong choices over authentic love and help for her and her child. Is it because she considers herself unloveable or is it because she has never been able to trust anyone who has been in her life?

I would imagine if you have gone through life with no one really caring about you that is is difficult to believe that others could genuinely love you and care about you. She chooses to believe the lies that the enemy allows to enter her head and confuse her. None of us know at this point how the next 4 weeks or so will play out...will the baby be put into DCF custody? Will she sign the papers and allow the godly woman who wants to adopt this baby to do so or will she relinquish the baby to the foster parents who adopted her, but have had not involvement in her life up until the last 2 weeks. Only God knows the answer and so we have to pray...to storm heaven's gates and to trust that His ways are always the best ways. And forever, the story of "Marie" will remain etched in our hearts.

There is a song by Casting Crowns..."Come to the Well"...and it says: "Leave it all behind...you can spend your whole life chasing what you feel is missing, but that empty inside it ain't gonna listen...when nothing can satisfy and the world leaves you high and dry...come to the well. And it goes on to say as Jesus would say: "Bring me your heart, no matter how broken. Just come as you are when your last prayer is spoken Just rest in my arms a little while, you'll feel the change, my child when you come to the well."

The world and all that it offers us can never fill us up. Nothing that we do will give us the fulfillment that Jesus can give us and yet, I see so many striving and so many addictive behaviors. The Bible tells us that Jesus loves us just as we are...His love is unconditional and in Him we can find rest. My prayer is for all of those who struggle with addictions that they will be able to seek Him and find their identity in Him and that the peace that surpasses all understanding will take hold of their hearts.

 

Letters to Ethan Blog Tour

What sparked the idea to write Letters to Ethan?
One day I started thinking about my own mortality and how I would want to be remembered by my children and grandchildren. I just didn’t want to die and leave them a memory, although positive memories are certainly important and valuable. I wanted them to know that they’re here for a purpose, that God loves them; that I love them; and I wanted to share the mistakes and miracles of my own life with the hope that it would be of some benefit to them as they encountered their own challenges and opportunities in the future.

Why do you think it’s important for letters to be left behind?
I believe that it’s important to leave letters for your children and grandchildren to give them a perspective on life in general, your family traditions, the role that faith has played in your family as well as the wisdom that you’ve acquired over the years. In addition, each letter is a ray of hope in that it communicates to the recipient that we all face challenges and obstacles in our lives and that with patience, persistence, passion, and purpose those challenges and obstacles can be overcome and result in a meaningful life.

Do you really think letters can have an impact on young people?
Absolutely. I’ve seen the results first-hand in adult children whose parents left legacy letters for them. In addition, when parents have shared letters with their adult children, the feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction have strengthened the bond between them immensely. In addition, when a young person realizes that a grandparent took the time to write them a legacy letter, it has a definite impact upon their sense of self-esteem and self-worth.
What inspired you to start Legacy Nation? (www.legacynationusa.com)

Two events triggered my passion for Legacy Nation. First of all, I had two sets of grandparents --- one that I lived with growing up in a two-story flat in upstate New York and knew as well as my parents, and the other set of grandparents that I never met. I still remember the happiness that I enjoyed with the grandparents that lived upstairs and the sadness that I felt at now knowing anything about my paternal grandparents.

I saw Legacy Nation as an opportunity to bridge two worlds. Parents and grandparents could write letters to their children and grandchildren on an ongoing basis while they are alive, sharing their wisdom, experiences, trials and tribulations, joys as well as the faith, hope, and love that they have in their kids and grandkids. Their children and grandchildren then would have those letters as a legacy that they could learn from and continue to build for their children and grandchildren as well.

At the same time, our nation is hurting. We need a re-energized faith, a new hope, and a return to that family foundation of love and respect that our forefathers relied upon to build these United States of America.

Progress is wonderful, technology is great, and the speed of change is a fact of life. Unfortunately, traditional family values are feeling the pinch from our current economic crisis and the demands placed upon our time result in less meaningful interaction with our kids and grandkids. I’m worried about the future of my children and grandchildren.

I founded Legacy Nation as a means to return to those values that made our nation great as well as an admired and respected people, a beacon of hope to mankind, and a blessing to our children and grandchildren.

If you could offer just one piece of advice to the next generation, what would it be?

God gave you three priceless gifts: your emotions, your intellect, and your will. And if you remember this thought you’ll know what to do with them: “God said, ‘Let’s build a better world.’ And I said, ‘How? The world is such a cold, dark place and so complicated now that there’s nothing I can do.’ God in all His wisdom said, ‘Just build a better you.’”

Where can we find out about more opportunities for a free copy of this book?
Follow @ChristianSpkrs on Twitter.

was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (http://ChristianSpeakersServices.com).