One of the many things I’m learning on the Race is to love myself for how God created me. He said, “[you are] fearfully and wonderfully made”. It’s way too easy and natural as women to compare ourselves with others, nitpicking at every single little thing, just to end up hating ourselves wishing we were anything but… me.
God created me with a Type A personality. One who is obsessed with time management, extremely detailed, organized, and clean. I mean, my closet at home is color coded and organized by season for crying out loud! I love to get lost in a deep clean or organized project. Not being organized and neat drives me crazy.
No matter how neat you are, the Race breaks you of that to some point. Thank goodness for my packing cubes so I still feel a bit in control. But I’ve really had to loosen up my standards of living and accept that not everyone is made like me and that’s okay because God has fearfully and wonderfully made every other person uniquely.
So with that preface, let’s switch gears now to Month 8- Romania.
Coming out of a difficult season, I prayed a lot upon entering this month, wanting it to be different. I wanted to approach ministry with a new and refreshed attitude… whatever that ministry may be!
This month Anna and I are working alongside an awesome missionary couple, Mark and Florina, at their house. The days with them keep us very busy with a variety of tasks including house work, yard work, helping take care of their 2 toddler boys, home visits, street evangelism, children’s ministry, and intercessory prayer. We are very thankful to have a full schedule and constantly serving in different ways!
Our first day of ministry at their house, Florina asked Anna to watch the boys for the afternoon as she took me into their workshop.
Florina- “Do you like organizing?”
Me- “Yes!! I LOVE organizing!”
From that point I spent the next 2 hours sprawled out on the floor diving and organizing every type of paintbrush, screw, nail, and sand paper imaginable by size, shape, use, you name it. I was on a roll.
In the time I absorbed myself in the task, I couldn’t help but just thank God for making me the way I am so I could thoroughly enjoy the diligent task. Someone who is NOT like me, I can imagine, would absolutely dread doing this work. In turn, I was super thankful Anna got put on babysitting duty, which she (not I) loves and is very gifted in. We both got to do what we love and are good at, glorifying God through our tasks.
I remember praying, “God thank You SO much for making me this way! I knew it’d come in handy and I’m glad that You are worshipped by it. Thank you for making Anna to love kids so she can joyfully serve in that way. I realize that not everyone can or should be made like me and You create everyone special in their own way to accomplish and serve in all of life’s tasks. Thank You!”
I tried not to let the lie of the enemy saying, “What you’re doing is stupid. You’re not actually doing anything important or life-changing by sorting nails” slip in.
While I was laying on the floor organizing, Florina came in and silenced all the lies by saying, “Thank you so much for doing this it means so much to me! I could never do it all on my own. You are a big help.”
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
