Life’s a Blessing, Not a Burden

Life isn’t always easy. There is joy and there is suffering. What if the only way for you to get into heaven is through your suffering? Since when did suffering become something we could choose not to endure? Maybe another family member needs to learn compassion and caring through you in order for them to enter into heaven. We can’t always see the purpose of suffering or why some suffer more than others, but we know that Christ suffered for us all. Through His suffering we can have eternal life. Life’s a blessing, not a burden.

Suffering

Don’t look to get out of your suffering. Take whatever God has for you and know that He has everything under control. Don’t feel that you are a burden, even if you are. Human beings need to learn to love other human beings. This world is so eager to get rid of human life at any inconvenience through abortion and euthanasia. Suffering can be used for good. There is suffering all over the world. We are called to help those who are suffering. We are called to take care of those who are orphans and widows, the aging, the homeless, the unborn, the dying, anyone in need.

The two greatest commandments are to Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. We don’t want to be burdens to others, but sometimes we must be. And we must be humble enough to allow others to love us back even in the hard things. Life’s a blessing, not a burden.

Too Good

My and my parent’s generation had it too good. We raised a bunch of children who didn’t suffer much because they were provided with everything. The last 40 years or so have been pretty prosperous for most. Times were good and convenient. Now we live in a time of great convenience, don’t we? We don’t have to work hard labor or even show up to a physical location to work. We can work from our homes. Everything can be delivered right to our doors We don’t have to work out or exercise. Everything is given to us and so we take everything and take it all for granted.

We’ve raised a generation whose sin is pride and selfishness. A generation who doesn’t care what you think or care to listen to your view or your advice because their world revolves around them. People who unfriend you at the click of a button when they don’t care or even believe what you have to say. A generation who is provided for by the government at every turn. A generation who has turned their back on God.

Time for Change

This was a big week for pro-lifers with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. We’ve had 50 years of getting rid of unwanted babies for lack of self-control. 60 million babies destroyed for convenience. These could have been future doctors, scholars, lawyers, or politicians who could have made a difference in this world by overcoming their obstacles and sufferings. We will never know.

We have a great opportunity for the Church to step up to the challenge of showing future generations, just how choosing life can be a blessing, not a burden. Let’s show our future generations how working hard, and enduring hardships, builds character and teaches you to appreciate all the little things this life has to offer. But let’s also show them the character of Christ and his suffering. Let’s show them just who Jesus is and how He came so that we might have life more abundantly because life’s a blessing and not a burden.

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

John 10:10

Action Steps

I know most of my readers are close to my age, my generation. There is a reason that there are so many more of us living today than any other generation. I believe it’s God providence. It’s time for us to step up and show these younger ones how it can be done. If you’re able, take action and get involved in local non-profit organizations that are making a difference. Help out at pregnancy help centers. Start a young mom’s group at your church. Let’s teach these younger generations by our actions, not just our words, because they don’t want to listen to our words. They are going to have to see it.

Just like all my other posts; schedule it in your planner or calendar. Make it a habit, once or twice a week. Just get started. It will be a blessing to you, not a burden. 🙂

What’s Ahead

I feel like I’ve written just about as much as I can on the subject of Character and Virtue these last two years. I want to get out there and help others live it, breathe it, teach it. I’m going to take a break, but I’ll be re-posting some of my earlier posts in the meantime. Maybe I’ll publish a book, who knows what God’s got up his sleeve for me. All I know is that this life is a blessing, not a burden. It’s time to make the most of what we’ve been given. I believe in God’s plan for all of us.

I appreciate you. May God richly bless you with joys to endure the sufferings. Thanks for following along. –Barb