Romans 12:9-21New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;[b] do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;[c] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This was the scripture from worship yesterday. I attended worship with my mother at Northaven UMC in Dallas, TX. As the scripture was being read, I couldn't help but smile and think of my Daddy. This was him, well... mostly. :)
When we were growing up and someone would be hurting one of us or seemed to be unfair or just not nice, Daddy would always say, "Put a grenade in her bra!" We'd laugh and feel better at his silliness. But really he always taught us to treat meanness with kindness. He would say something about how by loving them even when 'they' were awful to us just irked 'them' so it was great revenge. Lol He would tell us that we just had to keep being nice, keep loving and not to seek revenge or retribution, he'd say, "God will take care of them in the end."
So when they started reading verse 19 above, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." I couldn't help but chuckle to myself and think first of that grenade.
Really, as it was being read I could see my daddy in most of this scripture. "Serve the Lord..." he was always doing that. It just came naturally to him and he taught this to his kids by example.
"Show hospitality to strangers..." I saw him do this over and over again. Whether it was taking people to get gas, or cooking them a meal, I remember waiting in line at Six Flags when I was little and watching him show that hospitality to special needs young people waiting in line near us. I loved watching him interact with them and show them such love and understanding to these special strangers. I was always just in awe of him and his ability to do this.
Honestly, he lived this scripture every day. So many of us witnessed it and are better people because of it, because of him.
He did get a little cranky the older he got but you know, even in his crankiness, he worried about others (which is sometimes what made him cranky), he cared deeply and was always there for all who needed him.
This whole grieving thing is tough. I still can't believe he's gone. How is it possible? I see him in just about everything., scripture, football games, little things my kids say. Just being in church! He's everywhere and I'm so glad he is but it's hard.
Marks of the True Christian
"9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.[a] 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;[b] do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;[c] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This was the scripture from worship yesterday. I attended worship with my mother at Northaven UMC in Dallas, TX. As the scripture was being read, I couldn't help but smile and think of my Daddy. This was him, well... mostly. :)
When we were growing up and someone would be hurting one of us or seemed to be unfair or just not nice, Daddy would always say, "Put a grenade in her bra!" We'd laugh and feel better at his silliness. But really he always taught us to treat meanness with kindness. He would say something about how by loving them even when 'they' were awful to us just irked 'them' so it was great revenge. Lol He would tell us that we just had to keep being nice, keep loving and not to seek revenge or retribution, he'd say, "God will take care of them in the end."
So when they started reading verse 19 above, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." I couldn't help but chuckle to myself and think first of that grenade.
Really, as it was being read I could see my daddy in most of this scripture. "Serve the Lord..." he was always doing that. It just came naturally to him and he taught this to his kids by example.
"Show hospitality to strangers..." I saw him do this over and over again. Whether it was taking people to get gas, or cooking them a meal, I remember waiting in line at Six Flags when I was little and watching him show that hospitality to special needs young people waiting in line near us. I loved watching him interact with them and show them such love and understanding to these special strangers. I was always just in awe of him and his ability to do this.
Honestly, he lived this scripture every day. So many of us witnessed it and are better people because of it, because of him.
He did get a little cranky the older he got but you know, even in his crankiness, he worried about others (which is sometimes what made him cranky), he cared deeply and was always there for all who needed him.
This whole grieving thing is tough. I still can't believe he's gone. How is it possible? I see him in just about everything., scripture, football games, little things my kids say. Just being in church! He's everywhere and I'm so glad he is but it's hard.
I'm still here with my mom for now. Eventually I'll have to go home to my little family and it will be the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. It will be hard to leave my mom. I've even asked my husband to look for a job here. Mom said that Daddy always told widows to wait a year before making big decisions like that and I guess maybe that goes for kids too. I do think about going home and seeing him there in the things around us and in the things we do. I guess at first these things will be hard, they may always be but knowing that if he could, he would be there helps. I personally believe he will be there always watching out for us and over us never missing a performance or promotion by the kids or even a sermon of mine. I miss you, Daddy.
So True about your daddy.
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