“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”
― Sigmund Freud
― Sigmund Freud
JONAH
5Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6Then the Lord God provided a leafy planta and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
REVELATION 9
20The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
JOURNAL
Reading through Jonah it is easy to see how I many times have acted like Jonah. When things don't work out like I want them. When heartache strikes and I don't get my way, there is an anger and bitterness that can begin to surface.
Jonah moping over the plant is really kind of funny but it's also the state of his heart. He has such hatred for Ninevah that he cannot see beyond it. The hatred turns everything bad in his mind. Everything is exacerbated to a level where he is content to die because of a plant. Obviously it is not the plant but just where his heart has gone as a result of his bitterness and disappointment.
Today 24 years ago I began the greatest adventure of my life. Looking back there have been hard times, tough moments, anger, bitterness etc...but those were just moments. Those moments didn't define our marriage, rather they have only affirmed it. For it was in the hard moments that love shone through. It was in the failures that forgiveness ruled. It was in the disappointments that hope and faith overcame.
I look back and see where God wove his love through our lives despite our doubt. I also see overwhelming blessings through friends and family that inspired us to keep going, to keep loving and to keep trusting. I see times of laughter and silliness and joy that are greater and deeper than any material success or failure. I then see our boys and how God has blessed us in so many ways that are beyond anything we could ever have hoped.
24 years ago I was hopeful and excited but had no idea the adventure that awaited. I never would have scripted it the way it played out...but that's why God is God and I am not. He knew better...and that's why God willing...I am even more excited for the next 24+............
Reading through Jonah it is easy to see how I many times have acted like Jonah. When things don't work out like I want them. When heartache strikes and I don't get my way, there is an anger and bitterness that can begin to surface.
Jonah moping over the plant is really kind of funny but it's also the state of his heart. He has such hatred for Ninevah that he cannot see beyond it. The hatred turns everything bad in his mind. Everything is exacerbated to a level where he is content to die because of a plant. Obviously it is not the plant but just where his heart has gone as a result of his bitterness and disappointment.
Today 24 years ago I began the greatest adventure of my life. Looking back there have been hard times, tough moments, anger, bitterness etc...but those were just moments. Those moments didn't define our marriage, rather they have only affirmed it. For it was in the hard moments that love shone through. It was in the failures that forgiveness ruled. It was in the disappointments that hope and faith overcame.
24 years ago I was hopeful and excited but had no idea the adventure that awaited. I never would have scripted it the way it played out...but that's why God is God and I am not. He knew better...and that's why God willing...I am even more excited for the next 24+............
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres...love never fails.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7
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