As the wife of a grad student, it is important to keep in focus what is truly worth it. This means learning to trust in God for every thing, especially in the big and small decisions. Recently, that has been a bit of a struggle. Yet, Christ reassures me with these words:
““Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life? And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread, yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these. If this is how God clothes grass in the field — which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven — won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have! So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’ For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already!" Mattityahu (Matthew) 6:25-34 CJB (1)
This also means that our life as Christians should be focused on service.
Last week, we lost the most famous member of the greatest generation. Queen Elizabeth the Second passed away having been on the thrown for 70 years. In reflecting on her life, one quote made me think.
In the Queen's 21st birthday radio address, she promised:
"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it."(2)
Those words make me think of what a Christian walk should be. Far to often we spend our time worrying about what people think of us or whether we will leave a great legacy. Some also spend their time judging others by their outward appearance, and not investing in and listening to the other's heart. But what does it mean to be devoted to service?
“He who is kind to the poor is lending to Adonai; and he will repay him for his good deed.” Mishlei (Proverbs) 19:17 CJB (3)
This gives me the hope that if I devote my life to service, God will support me in that.
I pray that you would join me in HIS service.
Footnotes:
Pictures of Queen Elizabeth from Town and Country Article "42 Vintage Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Girl"