the title of this blog post comes from a conversation I’m having with a small group of close quilterly friends. We have made a commitment to support and encourage one another: messages, emails, phone calls, texts, however we can. It’s important from a listening and caring; sharing and not being committed to whatever we offer as a suggestion. Suggestions and advice are great however my only hope is giving someone something to think about and perhaps clarify in their own mind where they want to go or do.
Having that support of others who share something similar is priceless. We are each unique and different, have come to where we are from vastly different lives. And yet there is a love for one another that just works. I started a conversation recently saying “being a human with fascinating frailties I often wonder. . .” the comment went on with me expressing some surprise and gratitude for being well received at a recent teaching gig. Honestly I’m usually surprised and grateful.
There are times when I’m an absolute mess. The more I’m on social media the more I realize that I’m not the only mess out there. We’re all a bit of a hot mess, we all have fascinating frailties, they give us character. These frailties offer us opportunities to grow and rely on others, to be community for each other. Like our small group has one another.
Matt Maher “Lord, I Need You”
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
You’re my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
This post, like so many, takes days to write. I often have no clue where they’re going. I wait and a song or a word will come to mind. Just like I need the Lord I need these particular friends. They get my frailties and get how to talk me off the ledge or encourage me to let go when they know solid ground is waiting just below. I get their frailties – a least most of the time. It’s a definite complementarity of gifts.
We take the time to build each other up.
To encourage
To be there
To listen
We have other friends and other support however there is something special about this group and our fascinating frailties.
Our frailties are fascinating indeed. They are the very things that are intended to draw us closer to God and yet they are the very things that often hold us back. We think hey I’m not good enough or this is too shameful to bring this to God. I think of the one parable in scripture about the servant who’s debt is forgiven and yet doesn’t forgive the debts owed to him. There is a deep seated fear and shame there. The Master has clearly shown MERCY and the servant doesn’t respond well, at all. That mercy was meant to be extended, to encourage and support and offer forgiveness. I can not begin to imagine the suffering this servant endured as a result of extended Mercy. It’s always so much easier to be held accountable and suffer the worst affliction for our frailties.
And yet
I can imagine this servant extending Mercy to others. Can you imagine how mercy and grace extended may have rocked the world?
Frailties = opportunities to grow patience, mercy, grace, LOVE.
God bless!
Teri
go rock your world with compassion and mercy and kindness and love
A Quilter's Heart 