Maybe I've watched too many Little House on the Prairie episodes with my kids. Maybe I'm a little unrealistic. Or, possibly, do I live in dreamland too much? I don't think that the answer is 100% yes to any of those questions. I truly believe in the beauty of community...of being surrounded by people who love you where you are and for who you are. I gain strength in being surrounded by people who love me, who encourage me, who help me and pray for me. I feel blessed to get to be that for those in my life as well. We do a lot of things around our little farm the hard way. We do a lot of hard back breaking work by hand and alone. Occasionally we'll ask for help when I just can't muscle something around to help Chris enough. As we were digging rocks out of yet another vegetable bed the other day I expressed my thoughts of community. See, I picture it this way: friends and family rallying around one another in a "barn raising" type experience. Families coming together to work hard and enjoy fellowship with each other and then when the work is done, red checkered picnic blankets are spread out and we laugh and enjoy one another while eating a feast and drinking lots of lemonade and sweet tea while the laughter and squeals of our children ring through the air. It sounds blissful, doesn't it? Sadly, that isn't always reality. It's a dream/vision that I'm sure the Holy Spirit has birthed inside of me for a specific reason. Not just to get help on our gardening project, but to honestly find a group of people to become close knit with that I know we can rely on whatever may come.
We talked about my little dream and both agreed it would be nice...heavenly even. Unfortunately we live in a society that is so self focused that we forget about this gem of a gift God has given us. Community. Friends that will stick closer than a brother. People to sharpen your countenance and lift you up when you feel that you are crumbling. We get so busy in the rush of day to day life and so wrapped up within our own little worlds that we are MISSING the big picture! God didn't call us to be alone! God doesn't like to look down on someone who is struggling alone. He created better for us. This week a sweet friend blessed me beyond words. She called me and said "God has put on my heart to bless you this week. I would like to fix dinner and bring it over to your house." Of course I didn't want her to go to the trouble--I mean we are a big family of 6, that's a lot of food-- but finally agreed on the condition that they would stay and eat with us. The original day didn't work out so we rescheduled to tonight. I woke up terribly ill with a migraine and nearly called it off, but decided to go on as planned as dinner time approached. She showed up with bags of food--lasagna, salad, homemade bread, cake...everything down to the butter and salad dressing. Her husband followed with a large tub of beautiful dishes, silverware, and pretty glasses. They proceeded to set our table, complete with candles and serve my family a beautiful and delicious meal. We sat around our table laughing and talking. It was as beautiful as my barn raising dream. There is strength and power in relationships. I am convinced that God has people that he wants to knit into our lives so that when we become woven together we are a strong unit. We must put aside pride, fear and the urge to just be alone and trust God on this one. Being alone, doing things alone all the time makes you weary. When you are weary you are extremely vulnerable to attack and you will easily fall. When you take advantage of the loving arms of others that surround you...even if you fall you can KNOW that they will be there to pick you up, brush you off and hold your hand. That is the beauty of community. ~Michelle
1 Comment
4/22/2013 02:52:06 am
Michelle, I'm right there with you with just the same dream. Perhaps I have seen the movie "Witness" or "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" too many times, but have always loved the barn raising concept. I so wish we still lived that way--my neighborhood is pretty good, and they rally for those who need it. And our church is that way. Your Mom and Dad are folks like that--they are our friends from church and I know that if I truly needed something I could call your Mom or Dad and they would be here. Perhaps that dream comes from your DNA, from the two wonderful, dependable, hard working people my husband and I have the pleasure of knowing and loving as friends--your Mom and Dad.
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AuthorsThoughts and ideas inspired by the Holy Spirit, delivered to you courtesy of Chris or Michelle Cooper. We hope you enjoy our posts and would love to hear your feedback! Archives
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