"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Why would Christ tell us to do something that he knows is impossible in this life?
I don't know about those of other Christian faiths, but as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, this command weighs heavily on my mind, and on the minds of those I worship with. I think many of us put on a front, showing the perfect side of our lives. Oh yes, everything is hunky dory.
Someone calls you on the phone, and they ask how you are, and what are you gonna do? Launch into a long story about the kids tantrums, the dirty kitchen, lack of sleep, chubby thighs, amount of chocolate chip cookies eaten in one sitting, etc? No, you're going to say, everything is great!
In just two days worth of having this blog, I have come to realize that most of us hide the hard parts of our lives - from our friends, the very people that would want to help us! I think I have come across a truth though - you ready for this?
Only by acknowledging the difficult parts and the imperfections of our lives, can we overcome them and become perfect.
We can't do this by ourselves. King Benjamin taught that when we were in the service of our fellow men that we were in the service of our God. We must give and accept service, in the way that God would, in order to overcome the natural man.
What do you think? Do you have a hard time acknowledging the hard times and accepting help?
I seriously have a hard time accepting help. I don't know where I got the idea that I had to do everything on my own. Growing up certainly wasn't like that. My parents were probably one of the best examples of splitting the work-load 50-50. There have been times where Paul has to stop me, take me by the shoulders (gently, of course) and tell me that he is there to help...I don't have to do it all on my own. I'm trying harder now. I look at it this way: if someone offers to help, I should allow them to do so...it relieves my load, and it gives them much-deserved blessings. Would I willingly deny someone else the blessing they would receive by helping me out? So, yeah...it's hard, but I try. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how even when I want help so badly sometimes, I still don't want to accept what is offered. I wonder if that is what gets in the way with our communication with God sometimes - he is offering help but it's not exactly what we want.
DeleteI have always been one not to accept help...or if I did, I did it but not being happy about it. I will say, that over time and learning through life experiences, I have been able to tell those 'close friends' of mine the feelings and hardships I am going through...I think when you can go to your friend and vent about those 'not-so-happy things' that we all have to experience in life and the first thing they want to do is love and help you (with no judgement and worry of them thinking less of you), I know then that friend truly cares and I know that their encouragement and help with get me through those rough patches and they know they can expect the same from me.
ReplyDelete