Monday, March 10th
Julie Markle
Archived Meditation
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Psalm 145:8-9
As an adult woman, I am many things: a Christian, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a professional, and … a person constantly trying to control all of the variables of her life at all times.
In recent years, I’ve learned that my need to control everything does not serve me well—primarily because it’s a farce. I can only control a handful of minor variables at any given moment. Beyond that, God is in control. And Faith in that knowledge and a deep awareness that I have ( or will have) exactly what I need, thanks to all of His tender mercies, is the Truth. That’s the Truth for all of us: the Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works. We are His works, and He takes care of us. Sometimes, that care comes from a unique perspective or personality trait. Other times, we receive care from one another with the abilities and sensitivities that we may lack. Most importantly, the care for others often comes in the form of our graciousness and compassion, with which we have been endowed through Him.
This Lenten season, as we engage in sacrifice and anticipation, I will continue in my resolve to give up the fallacy of control. Instead, I will reflect to respectfully acknowledge and gratefully pray for the gifts I have been given. I’ll also try to be more aware of my surroundings—paying particular attention to the amazing humans in my life that support and offer me help, grace, and mercy. Lastly-and this is the real challenge- I will search for ways in which God wants to use “my” gifts as a way to provide and serve others in need. I will be open and looking for the moments when God points me in a direction in which I may serve another, and thereby Him.
Further into Psalm 145, we read that “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all of them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” How might we be of service to the Lord, as He avails himself to all that call upon Him? By understanding that our gifts are bequeathed to us as a result of His graciousness, and that those gifts are not intended to be kept to ourselves. Rather, they are meant to be shared with those in need. Remaining open to the opportunities to share our bountiful gifts, offers us a way to fulfill our purpose- as works of God.
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