The best lesson my mother ever taught me was how to learn a lesson. When I would tell her a story, any story, good or bad, she’d say, “So, what did you learn?” And I would
First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
try to figure out what I’d learned. This has been the most helpful lesson in my life. Even very bad situations offer some new piece of information. It’s comforting, to know some good came, even from the bad.
Watching my dad’s downward spiral has taught me many things. Addictive drugs are not to be played with. Our words affect other people, sometimes for a long time. Love does in fact hope all things, endure all things, bear all things.
Those lessons, and more every day. But there’s one in particular that I can’t get past. My dad’s a pretty good example of someone who is lost. He has something in him that is never satisfied. He sought, for years, to fill it with the world’s version of good things: a family, nice house, good job. When we moved away, he turned to other things, less acceptable things. Forbidden even. It’s almost as if he needed something stronger, more potent.
When you share the gospel with someone, there’s some compassion in your heart. You feel sorry for where they are in their lives, in their heart. You offer them Jesus, and hope they accept. But when I told my dad about Jesus, that he could bring peace, that he was the only solution, I didn’t feel just compassion. I felt almost desperate. I needed him to believe, to understand.
That’s when I learned about free will, the high cost of it. God loves my dad, loves everyone, far more than I do. This is what Jesus meant, love your enemies. He is merciful even to the evil and unkind. In the end, though, he won’t force anyone. I can’t force my dad.
He laughed me off. The gospel is foolishness to those who are dying, but to those who are being saved it is life everlasting. Please pray for my dad. I don’t want to get to heaven and not see him there. I don’t know if this is presumptuous, but please also pray to learn to love also. I think we could do more good if we felt that way about everyone, and not just the people in our immediate view. I’m praying for it, too. Thanks.
— Bekkie
28 responses to “Lessons – by Bekkie”
Beckkie,
Very well said! I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family daily. May God walk beside all of you through this difficult time. Hugs!!!
Lacy
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thanks lacy. i didnt know you got on here. im praying for you guys too. saw the baby pics-very beautiful.congratulations
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Yes Beckkie I am a follower of your mama’s. She is a brilliant writer and I enjoy reading her blog. Just saddened by all that your family is going through. I will pray that you all find peace. Thank you on your kind words about my granddaughter. Hugs to you & your family.
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you too. thanks for being such a good mom to erin. its one less thing to worry about. you dont know how much i appreciate that
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You are very welcome!! She is the light of my life. Such a sweet girl!!!
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I believe that one day, seeing your life and your love for him, he will be ready to listen. I’ll pray that he finds God before it’s too late <3<3<3
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thanks kadeen. i hope you’re right. i keep thinking he wouldnt be having such a hard time if God didnt want him
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We’ll keep praying for him; like you said, he has a void, and it’s a matter of time before he realises that only one thing can fill it. *Cyberhugs*
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haha thanks. cyberhugs back 🙂
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😀
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One thing I have learned, Bekkie, from the story surrounding my life, is that the more it costs me, the more I gain in the end. God sees to that. So when I see it costing me a lot, I try to encourage myself with saying, “There’s gonna be a big payday, here.” So far, there always has.
Look up. This is costing you all bunches. A big payday is around the corner.
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i appreciate the sentiment kat. and yeah, usually the hard stuff pays off the most. like fire in a furnace, right?
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I hope and pray it does, in your case, Dearest.
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thank you
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Bekkie: John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” – keep praying for your dad. God wants him in heaven too. Going through the same, but we must be warriors, and pray without ceasing. By the way, I was an addict who laughed off the gospel for years – and here I am, blood-bought and redeemed. Never give up!
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that’s the best thing ive heard all day. i figure if theres hope for you and me, theres hope for him. thanks
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So much wisdom in your words…God won’t force himself as you say on anyone…but prayer accomplishes much and I have and will pray for your Dad…Diane
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thank you diane. im learning that it does work, and im thankful for your prayers
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First, congratulations to Mum. Evidently, she did a great job in bringing you up and making you the mature person you are today.
Bekkie, we serve an amazing God. I know you believe that. I join you in prayer for your Dad. I am sure it would be God’s will for a family to be reunited, physically and spiritually. It might seem impossible at this time, but with Him all things are possible.
Meanwhile, to quote Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is your Refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” I pray that you, as a family, will experience His arms around you and that in time Chef will also be in that embrace.
We serve an amazing God!
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thats beautiful. god has a way with words huh? thank you.
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Lovely Bird I have nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award it is over here Congrats and Enjoy and SMILE
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Will pray for him. It is so frustrating when family members make terrible choices and yet we can do nothing but pray for them and in some ways that is God’s plan for believers to be prayer warriors for those who have spirtual needs. And for your father even if you can’t reach him pray that some other believer that he encounters along the way will be faithful to witness you never know what is really deep down in his heart. I remember some years ago I met a lady that I had known in middle school that I had briefly witnessed too –forgot all about it–but she never did and some 20 years later she got saved:) My dad also didn’t get saved until he was way into his 60’s though my mother had been a believer for many years. This is also a good reminder to us to be didligent to witness we never know who might be praying for that person we are talking to.
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yeah you’re right. its weird though, how my ind can be completely on board, and my heart is way off track. my head knows god is in control. my heart feels seven years old and scared
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bekkie ‘b’, my brandy ‘B’ and I are praying for your dad and your mom and your whole family.
-mike
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thanks mike. ill take all that i can get. thank brandy too
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Hmm. How old are you, youngling? Nice work. You have learned a valuable lesson here. It makes me sad that children have to learn these things. Your mom and I have some pretty great kids, that the world has inflicted some “Better Grow Up Pretty Darn Quick” things onto.
You are right, your dad does have an empty spot in his heart that can only be filled by Jesus. Even then, sweet thing, you and I both know that as Christians, incredibly sad things can happen that we don’t foresee or deserve. Remember “Jesus wept” in John 11:35? Read the story sometimes. It shows that Jesus gets it. He gets us, understands when we are sad or devastated.
The thing I am thankful for the most is that he keeps putting people- “Jesus with skin on” – in our lives to hold our hands in really hard times. Here’s mine.
Much love,
Victoria
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he told them lazarus was gonna come back. i just wish he could let me know. but i do trust him, and i know, even if his way gets worse, that it’ll get easier. thanks for your comforting words
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Bekkie, I want you to know that I have been praying for your mom and dad for some weeks now and will add you to my prayer list. My mother was 92 before she accepted Jesus as her Savior, and it is never too late as long as there is life. Some just have to experience the bottom before they come back up to the top. As you already know, Jesus loves your dad very much and died for him so he could have true life. I pray that the love of God will penetrate the wounded areas in his heart until he knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is loved by Jesus. Often when people experience the depth of pain which opens the door to addictions they have had issues back in their childhood that have never been dealt with. I pray that your dad will come to the place where he can face these issues in the safety of the presence of God and deal with them once and for all. God bless you and give you courage and encouragement to keep believing.
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