I was recently processing some thoughts through journalling and found, when going a little deeper – what God highlighted to me was surprising!
The words that triggered the ‘heart’ memories for me were ‘Accepted’ (opposite to rejected) and ‘Acceptance’ (opposite to self-hate).
When I was growing up in the 1960s, we traveled over 47km to church each weekend and the roads and freeways were not what they are today so although Google Maps may say that distance takes 48min by car today – back then it most certainly did not! As a small child, this was an arduous stint of sitting pretty in my petticoat, socks, and shoes until we arrived at our destination to then don our Sunday best dress and walk into church ‘clean’!
I remember, as young as I was, wearing Sunday best was a big thing (my Mum was
very diligent at sewing us all new and matching outfits regularly). Our car travel
to church was such a long drive, my Mum would only partially dress us, e.g.,
shoes, socks, and petticoat (as Dad would always stop halfway to buy ice-creams)
so, when we arrived out the front of the church, that is when we donned the
“dress” and of course no ice-cream stains!
Quote from ‘Door of Hope’ by Kim Stanfield
Because of this, I would say we (my siblings and I) were seen as ‘outsiders’ because we had to travel such great distances but also when it came to spending time with friends my own age, I was not able to do that with them during the week as we lived so far away so the other girls had a lot more in common with each other and I felt like I was on the ‘outer’ of everything that was going on.
Even attending kids camps together, I did not feel I fitted in with the socially acceptable group but made friends with others! Because of that, I have befriended someone who has been an amazing life support to me over my 60-plus years and to this day we still do all we can to stay in touch with each other.
(Picture – we were bridesmaids at each other’s wedding – 40yrs ago)
God has an amazing way of helping us ‘fit in’ to our circumstances and surroundings, even if we don’t think we fit!
I remember when we first arrived at the church we currently attend, back in the early 1990s. To better assist our children with the new environment my husband went all in to serve in the children’s ministry to be with them while I was left to attend and sit in the Sunday service on my own. Those who met me considered me to be a single woman and many did not link myself with my husband and children until many months later!
Did I feel strange, uncomfortable, and a bit lonely? Yes! But it probably had more to do with the fact that we had come to that church from an environment that was very upsetting, and I would say I was not willing to open up and let people in too close, in case I was hurt again so basically kept people at arm’s length for quite some time.
One pastor, every Sunday morning would come up to me and say, ‘Good morning, God Loves you’. I had no idea why, until, nine months later he walked past and had not greeted me… I asked him why he did not say his normal greeting? He said, ‘I don’t need to, you know it now!’ God knows where we are at, but he also does all he can to encourage the right kind of environments around us to cultivate that comfort, love, and grace he knows we need pouring into us by others!
When it comes to ‘acceptance’ of ourselves, we need to feel whole, healthy, and especially like what we see in the mirror – otherwise, we will just mope in a corner and cover ourselves up and not socialise.
The older I am getting I understand the need to continue moving (even if I don’t feel like it) to be able to keep up with all those around me, including my grandkids. My older sister and I regularly swim together each week and we greet another two sisters who swim at the pool too only they are older than us and we comment regularly that we need to keep doing this to keep as good as them!
I happened to bump into the older of those sisters yesterday at the shops and got chatting on their current activities and families and was blown away by the fact they are so mobile and are twenty years older than me! Woohoo! I told her that I was in awe and so want to be as mobile as her, at that age.
God knows our beginning to our end and unless we are willing to give our all, in pursuit of His purpose for us then why are we here?
‘So don’t lose your bold courageous faith for you are destined for a great reward. You need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of god’s will and then you receive the promise in full. For soon and very soon the one who is appearing will come without delay.’ – Hebrews 10:35-37 TPT
I love that the verse above says don’t lose your bold courageous faith because you need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of God’s will…
How awesome is our God who ‘ACCEPTS’ us and does all he can to lovingly cultivate circumstances around us every day to bring about a great and amazing future for us! I feel blessed and pray you do too 😊
‘Now may God, the source of great endurance and comfort, grace you with unity among yourselves, which flows from your relationship with Jesus, the Anointed one. Then, with a unanimous rush of passion, you will with one voice glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You will bring God glory when you accept and welcome one another as partners, just as the Anointed One has fully accepted you and received you as his partner.’ – Romans 15:5-7 TPT