WORDS Part 3

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:9-10 NIV

 I’m not sure what you do for a living, but there comes a point in everyone’s life where they feel invisible. Until recently, I was a stay at home mom who dabbled in a few odd part-time jobs over the course of the last 15 years, but nothing outside of my home. Needless to say I went from working a corporate job with yearly reviews to staying at home with babies who just cried, ate, slept and required hundreds of diaper changes. There was little to no recognition for “a job well done”.  It has gotten a bit better now that I have preteens and teenagers. At least my son will come give me a kiss or a hug and tell me thank you a few times a week.  However, most of the time I felt the things I did were invisible to those around me, except to my dogs and their never ending supply of kisses!

I didn’t miss my job outside of the home. But I did miss the accolades of hearing that I did good. I know that the love of my family should be enough, but sometimes it just didn’t feel like it.

One morning this past summer my husband had left for work and I got up to a note left on the coffee pot that said:

Thank you for dealing with things like the gas leak. You are great! Love you

Indeed we had a gas leak that required phone calls and repairs. But it was the fact that I was seen and my husband sincerely loved me and thanked me that filled my heart. He thought of me enough to take time to write me a sweet note that I still have today.

A few months ago I came home from picking up my daughter at school. At the door was a package of flowers. We opened it up and read the card that said:

Because you deserve it and because I love you!

My husband had surprised me with a bouquet of flowers not because of anything special. Just because I did all the things I do. He sincerely loved me and wanted me to know that I wasn’t invisible. I still have that note too.

We all want to be seen in this world. We all want to know that we are doing a good job. We all want to be sincerely loved by our family, friends, and coworkers. Words are powerful. They can help others feel seen and loved just as God sees and loves us.

Today think about someone in your life that has done something for you. Take a post it, write a simple message of thanks, and leave it for them to find.

STUDY – ROMANS 12 – NIV

 ¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.