Those Who Have What It Takes

So many times people have asked, and I've wondered myself, "Sarah, why do you stay at Grace?" I can never give an explanation that really gives a reason why, other than, "God hasn't told me to go yet." That reason alone far surpasses any other reason I would have, but there are some other reasons that go along with it, such as...there are duties to fulfill...I want to be able to worship together with my mom, my dad, my sister, my grandma, and my aunt...the people at Grace love me more than any other church family ever will...consistency is important, not only for me, but also for my kids...we go thru many fires in that church, but if we never experience fire, we never get a true understanding of what it feels like to finally feel some rain...to see prayers answered...to watch God at work...and to know that we are exactly where God wants us.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we had a great guest speaker on Sunday, and just for pure enjoyment and relaxation, he sends out a "cup of coffee" every Monday to family & friends and just about anybody who wants to be added to his emailing list. What he wrote about the congregation at Grace in Monday's cup of coffee reminded me why I'm still there:

"Mornin', gang-

I've got a fresh-brewed pot of Toffee Nut java here. Slide your cup over here; I'll pour us both a little more.

Babycakes and I were reminded yesterday of just what it is that makes America and Americans truly unique in the world.

We met a few dozen people as a group we'd never before met and may never have otherwise known this side of Heaven. Their names aren't important. They're a hardy and resilient bunch of folks, all sorts of personalities and ages and with all sorts of different life experiences along the paths they've walked. Tall, short, stout, thin, young, old. . .

They're a tough team who understand no one of them can go it alone, but together they'll manage to get done whatever needs doing. Everyone wears several hats because there are more tasks than takers. I observed the signs of weariness and disappointment that always comes when those with lesser drive to survive choose to quit the team for whatever reason. But I didn't see anyone moping, and I didn't hear anyone griping.

Note: I never said that doesn't occur among them. They're not The Legion of Superheroes; they're just like all the rest of us. They get tired, sore, irritated, disgusted and angry, too. They just weren't tossing that all out there. What they did do was offer some fairly dispassionate assessments of where they'd been, where they were and where they wanted to go from this point.

I observed them caring about each other. I listened to them praying for and encouraging each other. What a concept. I know of a group of 535 who can't seem to get over themselves long enough to make that happen. They could learn a lot of these folks I met yesterday."

It's kinda nice to be encouraged for once and not looked down upon for a being "one of THOSE people."

Big Love,
Sarah