Joy

Obedience and the Mundane

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

It seems to me that obedience is found in the mundane and the small things. If we cannot be obedient in the day to day and the little things, then how can we expect to be obedient in the big things? Jesus seems to think so too. In Luke 16:10 He says that whoever is trusted with little can be trusted with much and that makes sense when you think about it. If you cannot handle being obedient with the day to day how can you be trusted with something that requires more of you?

Part of the problem is that daily obedience is hard. Not just because it requires you to keep it up but because there is no applause for daily obedience. I mean we have social media where we can broadcast our obedience, but nobody really cares. You might get some likes, some hearts, maybe a few comments but in reality, it really just doesn’t matter to people. I don’t think it should either and I am just as guilty as anyone else. We want to be seen for our obedience in the mundane and small, but truth be told we should only care that we are being obedient. Not because we want to be trusted with more but so that we are being obedient. If we are only chasing more, we miss something beautiful. We miss the joy of obedience.

There is a joy that comes in mundane obedience because it connects us to the heart of God. When we are obedient to God in the day to day, we get closer to God. When we go about our day doing what is right because it is right, He is present. God tells Abraham that He is Abrahams great and mighty reward. The relationship with God and God Himself is the reward. By being obedient to what God has called us to right now we are looking for Him to be our reward. It’s not glamorous or flashy but it is intimate and that is much better. Sure, we can be open to more. Joseph never stopped wanting to be free, but he was still obedient in the mundane.

Obedience does not mean you pretend either. Be honest with God when you want something different but obedient anyway. If it is hard, tell God it is hard but be obedient anyway. If it scary tell God it is scary, but be obedient anyway. The more you are honest with God the more you draw near to Him and Him to you. Obedience is not about being a mindless zombie but about doing the right thing and drawing close to God when you do it. Mundane obedience is not the most fun you will have but it is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

Just a thought,

Mike

My Torn Joy

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Joy

It was nine months ago that we go the call. It was not the first time we had received the call, but we thought it would be the last, at least for a while. “We have a little boy who needs a home are you available?” yes of course we are. We were prepared and had everything ready. A few hours later we met C. It was love at first sight. He was the most adorable thing we had ever seen. He looked at me shot a little sideways smile and my heart melted. I knew I was in for a world of hurt. Within two weeks we were ready to keep him. We knew instantly that if he needed a permanent home he had one with us. Our goal with fostering is to give 100% of ourselves to the kids because they need it. Granted we have not done this for that long but it was still our goal. So, he got it all. All the love he could handle and trust me he can handle a lot of love.

Everyone who has met this little man has fallen for him. He walks down the hallway at church and almost everyone stops to say hi and give a high five. He puts a smile on everyone’s face and brings joy to everyone he meets. At the grocery store, he is king of the isles. I’ll be honest because we have different skin tone we were so nervous we were going to get questions and stares, so we wanted to keep a lower profile. I would have hated to have to slap a fool. C did not care. He wanted everyone to see him and us. He would kiss and hug me in front of anyone. He just wants to see the whole world smile. And they do.

Today he comes back from a weekend visit and then he will be leaving in a little over a week. I am so glad that he has a family to love him and I am heartbroken that I will not see him anymore. I honestly feel like I am going to die. He brought so much joy into my life for these nine months and I will never forget that, but it does not do much to soften the pain. I wanted to give 100% of myself to him and I did. Now part of me is leaving with him. It was hard when the last placement ended but for different reasons. This is torture. The waiting for him to go. The knowing the end is near and never showing him. Knowing each kiss goodnight is one less I get but making him feel like each one is forever. I have to be honest this hurts more than I ever knew possible. But again, he gave me joy and so much more.

Through C God has shown me more of His love than I ever understood before. Through C God has shown me His heart for me. Even when he is a little punk I love him. Even when he tests I love him. Even when he is just a two-year-old I love him. Nothing will change that. God has shown how He feels that infinitely more towards me. My joy is torn just like this picture C made and then broke. It serves as a reminder of what it means to love. Love means putting yourselves out there being willing to be hurt because it is worth it.

Kids are worth it. People are worth it. People need love and yes, they can hurt you, but they are worth the risk. You cannot reach everyone. Sometimes no matter how hard you try there is just no getting to them, but we cannot let that stop us from loving someone else. We are called to walk like Christ and Christ loved Judas knowing he would betray Him. Jesus loved enough to be hurt and so can we by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I know I am going to be a mess when C leaves but that is because I love him and I am OK with that. Foster care is hard and sometimes it just sucks but they are worth it. Loving people is hard and sometimes you don’t want to do it, but people are worth it. If we just try and protect ourselves from getting hurt we may succeed but at what cost?

Just a thought,

Mike