On July 12th we celebrated Anna’s 7th birthday. During dessert, we each shared the special ways we see how God created her, how he uses her and what we appreciate about her.
Joel said, “She gives hugs with love.”
This broke me.
I am a very task-oriented person. In seminary I took a Strengths Finder inventory and the counselor said, “you get stuff done, don’t you?” I do. I’m good at knocking stuff out, juggling many tasks at once, and meeting deadlines.
But I’m also really good at bulldozing people in the process, of choosing a bad attitude so people get out of my way and leave me alone so I can finish all the blessed tasks.
I realize consciously that this isn’t loving—but I have stuff to do, people! Get out of my way! Can’t I just say that Acts of Service is my love language, or say I have the Gift of Helps and call it holy?
No. I don’t actually fool myself into believing my task-completion-without-love is right. Sort of like a clanging cymbal. In the end it is all worth nothing.
In our re-entry to life in Las Mangas (we arrived late on the 9th), God has been gently showing me how I don’t need to return to the lifestyle of task versus people. There is much work to be done here, but what my family, this community and God’s people don’t need is for me to complete all of the tasks; they need all of me to love all of them with all of myself. Which is put into action. But I know that I can only accomplish that task of loving by abiding in Christ who is love.
So Joel said what we all agree to be true about Anna: she gives hugs with love. I want to do that too.
Joel said, “She gives hugs with love.”
This broke me.
I am a very task-oriented person. In seminary I took a Strengths Finder inventory and the counselor said, “you get stuff done, don’t you?” I do. I’m good at knocking stuff out, juggling many tasks at once, and meeting deadlines.
But I’m also really good at bulldozing people in the process, of choosing a bad attitude so people get out of my way and leave me alone so I can finish all the blessed tasks.
I realize consciously that this isn’t loving—but I have stuff to do, people! Get out of my way! Can’t I just say that Acts of Service is my love language, or say I have the Gift of Helps and call it holy?
No. I don’t actually fool myself into believing my task-completion-without-love is right. Sort of like a clanging cymbal. In the end it is all worth nothing.
In our re-entry to life in Las Mangas (we arrived late on the 9th), God has been gently showing me how I don’t need to return to the lifestyle of task versus people. There is much work to be done here, but what my family, this community and God’s people don’t need is for me to complete all of the tasks; they need all of me to love all of them with all of myself. Which is put into action. But I know that I can only accomplish that task of loving by abiding in Christ who is love.
So Joel said what we all agree to be true about Anna: she gives hugs with love. I want to do that too.