Tuesday, August 08, 2006

In "Other" Words

“Remember, we all stumble, every one of us.

That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand.”

~ Emily Kimbrough ~

How true. We do all stumble, but I must admit, my realization upon reading this quote was that if you are hand in hand, wouldn't it be possible to make the person walking with you stumble? I would never want to do that, so how do I grasp this and make it a comfort instead of being a stumbling block? I am so glad you asked! I viewed the people walking hand in hand as me and Jeremy first. As a husband and wife it's important to be honest, walking side by side, accomplishing the same goal in the Lord...but there are times when one of us might be stronger than the other. When one of us needs a boost... When one of us is on our knees in a struggling time... That's when the positive outlook came regarding the stumbling. I think at first I was viewing the stumbling as a negative, because sometimes it is, but if I flip it and view it as a positive (a time to grow closer to the Lord, a time to trust Him even more than ever before) then I have renewed faith and strength by having someone there to physically comfort me and be there for me. That's the point I truly thank the Lord for putting Jeremy and I together. There is no one else I would rather walk this road of faith with.

The next image I got was of true friends. I have a friend who lost a set of twins just over three years ago. I have thought about those children and what their life would be like had God not sent her body into active labor. When my friend went through that, another friend and I got on board and walked that road with her. She didn't know it, but we weeped over hearing the news and days afterwards we contemplated how to approach and love her. We didn't have to contemplate long, because the Lord brought us together. During her healing, we tried to be there for as much as she needed us, and we rejoiced when the Lord allowed her and her husband to deliver a set of fraternal twins in August two years ago! It was an incredible sight. When the Lord allowed a deep and heavy time in her life when she stumbled and struggled, He allowed good friends with open arms to help pick her and up and walk with her during that time. That is the beautiful picture of having comfort in walking hand in hand.

The last image the Lord gave me was of Him and I! He would walk for days and miles with me all the while I stumbled. How could I not want to walk that road with others? Jesus doesn't care how much I stumble, He said He would never leave me nor forsake me (Dt. 31:6)! It was hard putting on the shoes of either of those people. When you stumble, you immediatly show that you are not immortal and you have faults and you aren't perfect. When you are there walking with someone who does stumble, it's not always easy to help pick them up...but with the Lord....He promised, "With God, all things are possible!" (Matthew 19:26)

In Christ-

Karen

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5 comments:

Amydeanne said...

great blogging!
It is truly amazing how we can be Christ hands, but how his hand won't leave us if we continue to walk in his light!

Lori said...

Great post. And excellent images.

Thank you for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I read your post through tears, as I could so relate. I've had three miscarried babies, a stillborn daughter at 36 weeks, and most recently lost a 16 year old son a year and a half later. I am now so blessed at age 43 to be expecting another precious blessing. Though not a replacement, God blesses so much, and holds our hands, knowing what we need, when we need it.

You indeed were such a dear friend to that gal. I hope she knows how blessed she was!

Loni

Anonymous said...

You are so right. There are different things to look at the quote. You have done a great summeray :). It is true that in marriage you need to walk hand-in-hand and help each other over the rough spots - that makes a good marriage:).
I am thankful to God He always sends friends along to encourage and build me up, no matter what I go through. :) But the best walk is with Him. Where we can just cry out to Him and will pick us up and dust us off. But sometimes we are not willing to take His hand - at least it is true with me...

Thanks again for your insights. I think this week was my favorite quote - thus far at least.
Blessings to your evening.

Unknown said...

I loved all these different perspectives.