I never thought I would see the day when a woman would stand up in front of a crowd and on national television to declare that the murder of her unborn child was praiseworthy and admirable.  I never thought I would see people spitting on military graves or wishing for the death of those who have bravely risked their lives for us.  But, I have witnessed all of the above.  I see it every day.  Lives destroyed because one person sees their life as more valuable than someone else’s. 

What happened to the days where sacrifice was seen as love?  Where sacrificial living was praised and worthy of report?  Where parents sacrificed their dreams so that their children could pursue their own?  When men and women who sacrifice comfort, holidays, and even their own lives were seen as heroes? 

When did we become so ungrateful and self-serving as a society?  When did a mother that stays at home with her children to make sure that they are cared for emotionally and physically become a drain on society, while a woman that aborts her child so that she can pursue her own career is seen as a hero? 

Today when I look around I see a blatant display of selfish living.  Selfishness and sacrifice have done a flip flop in the eyes of the world.  It’s now all about me, me, me and instant gratification.  Sacrifice is seen as weakness while accomplishments at any cost are seen as strength.  But what good is it, if we gain the whole world and yet lose our souls in the process?  (Mark 8:36 paraphrased by me.)

Today we are told that the only way to be someone is to achieve something.  That we are heroes when we achieve success at the cost of others.  But the Bible sees it differently.  According to the Word of God, we are someone when he live a sacrificial life.  When we live a life poured out for others we are true representatives of Christ who gave himself up for us. 

We can’t be the church and live to please ourselves.  We were called to follow the example of Christ.  To offer our bodies as living sacrifices.  To not worry about who is right or who is wrong, but to speak truth in love and to glorify God in all that we do. 

We can only do this when we live our lives to please God and Him alone.  When our actions are not based on religious obligation but are an overflow of a real, genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.  The I’s and Me’s of this world must be replaced with His desires and His direction for our lives.

Let us all redirect the way we currently live.  Taking our eyes off of ourselves and fervently living in the moment for Him.  Asking for eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts willing to obey, and feet ready to engage.  Let us lives our lives as Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) states so boldly:  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship Him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

When life becomes overwhelming to the point that I can’t make headway, I have a tendency to enter a state of boredom.  ‘How can I possibly be bored when I have so much to do?’ you might ask.  

Well, maybe boredom wasn’t the right word.  The truth is, I stop finding enjoyment and fulfillment in my tasks.  My creative juices stop flowing and I begin to just go through the motions, the paces of life.  

This is not where God wants His people.  He wants everything we do to be done with a thankful heart.  He wants us to live our lives to the fullest.  He bought our freedom so that we could LIVE not just EXIST.  

When I start to feel the tugging of discontentment, boredom, or even a lack of interest in things I normally find enjoyable, I know it’s time to take action.  I can allow these feelings to overwhelm me or I can run to my Rock for strength, my Fortress for shelter, and my Friend for comfort.  He never disappoints.  

He is always there when I call.  I never get a busy signal.  He never tells me to call back later or avoids my attempts to get together.  In fact, He welcomes me.  His love refreshes me.  Spending time in His presence gives me a fresh perspective, a new energy, and a song of praise.  

Psalms 61:1-4 (NLT)  Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.  I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.  

This week I had the privilege of watching our oldest son be sworn into military service and transported off to boot camp.  To say my heart and mind were full would be an understatement.  

I found myself pondering over the fact that in early 1997, I was told that I would not be able to sustain a pregnancy.  In another words, I could get pregnant, but it wouldn’t result in the birth of children.  BUT amazingly, our God had other plans for my life and I was watching one of them now.  

As much as I love my oldest son, I learned long ago that he doesn’t belong to me.  He never has.  He has been entrusted to my care, but he belongs to God.  When he was born, I was given the priveledge and responsibility of nourishing, providing, teaching, training, disciplining, sacrificing, and all of the other duties that come with being a parent.  

These duties have changed quite a bit over time, especially in the last few years.  As he has gotten older I have adjusted my role as his mother to fit our growing relationship and to enable him to become a man in his own right.

When he stood before the flag on Monday pledging to uphold the Constitution and to defend our country and it’s citizens, I wasn’t looking on through the lenses of a son’s mother.  Instead, I was seeing him through the eyes of a friend, cheerleader, and prayer warrior.

The old tasks and roles I had played as his mother have been put away, the door closed as it should be.  And a new door has been opened.  It is this unfolding chapter that I look forward to exploring as I learn to love, serve, and let go so that he can become all that God has called him to be.