Last weekend, my daughter and I attended the Ladies Luncheon put on by the missions committee at church. We eagerly anticipated getting to know a few of the missionaries our church supports.
The group of ladies who organized the luncheon truly made it special and we felt blessed.
Entering the church we were greeted with the Dessert Table
---nothing like getting ooos and ahhs right away!!
I think Hallie was REALLY glad she came after seeing that.
We were seated at a beautifully decorated table and served a delicious meal by our own private waitress.
Becky, our waitress, and several other girls from "Bright Lights", a
discipleship training group for young ladies, made sure we were well taken care of. Excellent job ladies!
Jan Burke served as our Emcee for the day and Jane Skelton
and Barbara Thompson (missionary girlfriends) gave encouraging presentation.
Jane Skelton ( on the left in the picture) was our first speaker. Jane and her husband Eric work with Wisconsin Family Council. I've known Jane for about 13 years. We met at church and became fast friend. Because our kids also became good friends we've spent many hours at each other's houses enjoying sweet fellowship. I would say I know her pretty well.
Yet as I sat there listening to her share about their mission work and also share her testimony in Christ, I was given fresh encouragement from parts of her story I did NOT know. She shared openly about her marriage struggles and how those exact struggles are the ones God has used to put passion in their hearts for where they now serve - Marriage Ministry. One phrase she said summed up why I was so glad I came to the luncheon.
"They just don't know what it was like."
You see, Jane had shared that in mentoring couples in struggling marriages she always encourages them by sharing what a wonderful plan God has for their marriage. Often they don't believe her.
Perhaps their doubt in - "believing things could be different for them" is because - it comes from HER.
Perhaps because what this struggling couple sees before them is -- A healthy married couple who honors and serves Christ by loving and caring for one another. Of course SHE can say that when she has a great marriage.
That's when Jane's thoughts go to
"They just don't know what it WAS like"
During her luncheon talk she openly shared with us, what it WAS like in her marriage 10 years ago. She shared the struggles and victories of what Christ has done within them to bring them them to where they are now.
Likewise, sometimes I do the same thing this struggling couple does -- DOUBT.
When I've come into a relationship with a girlfriend AFTER God has already been doing a miraculous work with her, I only "see" - what's before me. I too can doubt words of truth a girlfriend speaks to me, because I have a misperception of thinking she has always been where she is right now. She can't possibly know what I am going through.
Meeting someone new can do this. Meeting someone new who is a missionary--well, double misperception time--- she's obviously been a Saint all her life-right?
Misperceptions tend to stay that way--- unless----We get to know someone more and we hear their story.
2 weeks ago, all I had to go on about who Barbara Thompson is, was a picture and a few short words from our church newsletter. Our Mission Board has committed to supporting her family (husband Brian and 2 daughters) as missionaries to Hungary. At the luncheon, I loved that Barbara also shared her story of what it was like over the past 15 years that led them to where they are now----going to Hungary. Listening to her began a friendship that has helped me know her more, help me understand missions more, and gave me a great desire to be involved with what God is doing.
Both of these wonderful ladies gave me loads of encouragement by sharing their stories because.....
It's when a girlfirend shares where she was BEFORE in her struggles and the victories that Christ has given her in them that I am most encouraged.
"really, she went through that too"?
"really, that happened in her life too"?
"really, she still has things she struggles with NOW"?
I draw hope from a real life girlfriend who shares what she has been through AND how she has made it through. Instead of doubting , my thoughts become hopeful that I may make it too - that I could have victory as well.
God seems to be speaking to me alot about the strength that comes from sharing. I am currently going through a devotional series by Beth Moore on the life of Paul. Last week, the title of one of my devotions was "wisdom from the aged". Up to this point in the book I have been reading through Acts and seeing what God did with Paul and his journeys. The Bible also tells me "what it was like" for this early missionary. Scripture tells us in Act 14:21-22 that Paul and Barnabus returned to the exact cities from which they fled in persecution. Beth comments:
" I hope we have shared some of the strength and encouragement
Paul and Barnabas gave to the believers in Lystra, Iconium, and
Pisidian Antioch. The new converts saw living examples of
perseverance through suffering. Paul and Barnabas departed from
each city under difficult circumstances. They went out of their way
to return so they could say "We're OK! We've Survived! And
we're still believing and serving!" In seeing the joy and commitment
of God's suffering servants, they knew they could survive too."
Just like Paul, we too can strengthen and encourage others by sharing our struggles and our victories.
It can be scary to do at first. I've had a hard time sharing about certain things I have gone through and am going through.
I've been scared to because - THEN THEY'll KNOW........
......................what I am really like,
......................how weak I am
......................and on and on.
Yet, what usually helps me move forward and share is remembering this instead:
THEN THEY'LL KNOW..........HIM.
I was expecting to hear about missionary "adventures" at this ladies luncheon. I didn't know God would speak encouragement into MY heart about what I struggle with.
I was expecting to come and show my support for the missionary for what they go through. I did not know, that in having the missionary share her story, I would be the one recieving support for what I go through.
I was expecting to come, chat, laugh, listen and eat a nice lunch. I wasn't expecting God would deepen my friendship with Jane and Barbara, deepen my understanding of their passion, deepen how to be a better friend to them both, and deepen my resolve to press on in my struggles.
Is there someone YOU can strengthen today by opening up and sharing your struggles and your victories?
.......Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. Acts 14:21
