Your life affects others...
Monday, August 2, 2010 When I left the business world at twenty-eight to pursue a life of ministry I had no idea how my life, my family, and the lives of others would be affected. I never gave much thought to the idea that my life affected anyone.
I know that sounds naive, but yesterday was an amazing reminder of how our lives do affect others, and the need to mature in this understanding and handle it with grace and savvy.
One example was magnified yesterday. Over many, many years, the Lawson clan (and friends of the Lawson's) have sat on our couch and asked for help, for counsel, and for prayer. Sandy and I have had the privilege of praying for them and seeing God tangibly touch their lives.
Yesterday, Sandy and I attended the memorial service for their son Corey, who passed away recently under confusing circumstances. The day before, Ken (the Dad) asked me if it would be possible for us to attend and if I would say a few words. Sandy and I wanted to be there to simply love them and hug them all. But, when Ken asked me to say something I knew he wanted me to say what God wanted to say.
From the time I woke up on Sunday until thirty minutes before our normal worship service I was asking God specifically what to say, and how to say it, later that day at the memorial. I didn't even have my sermon figured out yet! (At 9:50 AM - service starts at 10:00 AM - God gave me the sermon topic and five verses to support it; Sandy is always amazed at how God does that for me.)
After church we had about a two hour ride to the memorial so we left immediately. I spent the majority of the time thinking and praying about the service and asking God to help me get the sense and flow so that what He told me to say would be delivered in the right spirit and intent.
When we walked into the church we bumped into Ken and Teresa and their eyes told us everything. Just seeing us there lit them up. They were so blessed that we could come. We were so blessed to be there.
(A very wise pastor told me years ago that people don't remember much of what you say at funerals, but they remember you were there for them. I think that applies just as well to when you pray for people. So many times it's not what you say, but the spirit in which you pray and care for them. That's what they remember.)
Then it began... person after person came to us and hugged us, blessed us, thanked us, and hugged us some more. We were there to hug them but we ended up with all the hugs. They told us how our prayers had affected their lives and began introducing us to other family members. One after another, they said, "Do you remember when you prayed for me?", or, "So you're the pastor who prayed for my son" (or daughter, or fill in the blank). They were so thankful. Apparently the word had gotten around. God had made a discernable impact on their lives in ways we never knew.
Then God whispered to me, "They love you because you showed them My love." I was about to lose it and the service hadn't even started yet! I needed to get it together because I still had to share the word God had given me.
After the service it began again. People I hadn't seen in twenty years were coming up and reminding us of the time they came to the house, received love and prayer, and the results of those prayers. As I'm eating a brownie (I know... I shouldn't eat sugar) a fellow pastor sits down and says, "I need some advice...". We set up a time to get together.
On the way home emails start arriving on my phone. Then Sandy told me how the first Psalm I read affected the Mom. I won't share the specifics but it affected her in a profound, life-changing, way. God is good.
Why am I sharing all of this? It's just a reminder that your life affects the lives of others. It really does. You're probably like me and don't think much about it but you do affect other people. The question would be, how are you affecting other people?
When we're young we do what we want without much regard for others. As we mature we begin to realize that our words and actions have consequences, both good and not so good. As we become wise we purpose in our hearts to love others as God would love them.
Before I finish I must admit something. A few weeks ago this thought went through my mind (before I knew I had a brain tumor)... If I were to die today would anyone come to my funeral? Has my life meant anything? Will anyone remember me after I'm gone?
And then there was yesterday. I really got to see and hear how our lives had affected others.
Later, Ken asked me how I was and I said I was doing fine. He looked me in the eye and said, "I don't want you to be fine like Corey is fine now." We hugged and I looked him straight in the eye. "Ken, I have no plans for leaving planet earth." We hugged again and knew we would not only see each other again, but have many more times to pray together and share God's presence together.
Go out and purpose to affect someone's life with the love of God. Many days will pass, but, the day will come when you get to see how much it meant to them.
"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
Reader Comments (1)
I will be praying for you. thank you