The Nurturing Trait of Faith
Stories
Contents
“The Nurturing Trait of Faith” by Keith Wagner
“Destinations Unknown” by Keith Wagner
The Nurturing Trait of Faith
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 67
When Paul met up with Lydia and some other women who were praying and worshipping in Philippi, they were inspired by his words. Lydia was baptized and insisted that Paul be a guest in her home, signifying her passion for the faith.
I believe this incident of the coming together of faithful men and faithful women clearly affirms women are included in the community of faith. As the Psalm reads, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”
In Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul, there is a story about a young mother and her son that illustrates the nurturing trait of faithful women. Little Justin Car, 4 and 1/2, was put in time out for getting into mischief. He was very unhappy about it and after a few minutes he said, “I’m going to run away from home.” His mother, Lois Krueger, said, “You are?” But, like all good mothers she looked into his sad little eyes and felt his pain. She knew deep inside he was saying, “Please don’t ignore me mommy, please notice me and make me feel loved.” So Lois switched into her nurturing mode and tenderly spoke to him. “Okay, you can run away from home,” she said. “Let’s see, we’ll need to get your coat and pajamas…” Justin then replied, “Mama, What are you doing?”
Lois, being the nurturing mother she was, then added, “We’ll also need to get my coat and pajamas and pack them in your bag. Are you sure you want to run away from home?” “Where are you going, mommy?” Justin cried out. “Well, if you’re going to run away from home, I’m coming with you. I wouldn’t want you to be alone, I love you too much,” she replied. “You’re coming with me?” he asked. “Yes, because I love you and my life would never be the same without you.” “Can Daddy come?” he said. “No, Daddy has to stay home with your brothers,” his mother replied. “Can Freddie (his pet hamster) come?” he said with desperation. “No, Freddie has to stay home too,” his mother stated firmly. Justin thought about what his mother had said and stated, “Mama, can we stay home?” His nurturing mother quickly responded, “Yes, Justin, we can stay home.”
Lois knew her son didn’t want to run away from home. What he needed was some encouragement, a gentle nurturing nudge. Lois knew in that moment what a wondrous gift that motherhood can be. She realized her son just wanted to be cuddled and molded into an adult masterpiece. She also learned that she could never run away from an opportunity to show her children how much she loved them.
We normally think of God as mighty, powerful, wise and strong. Most of our images of God are male. God however has a nurturing side and frequently shows female attributes. God is love, kind, compassionate and I believe, very nurturing.
In my ministerial career I have had countless situations where folks were critically ill and dying. There were times when I felt totally helpless. I didn’t know what to say. Prayers were most always appreciated but I always felt I needed to do something more. In retrospect I realize that I am sometimes unable to give the nurture that is needed in crisis situations.
A few years ago my mother-in-law was dying in the hospital. She was extremely weak, her weakness due to her age and ovarian cancer. Her skin was very thin and therefore she required special bandages for her arm where her intravenous was inserted. At one point a nurse came in to change her port and insert a new one. When she removed the bandages she tore the skin on my mother-in-law’s arm and she cried out. My wife was with her and it upset her that the nurse had not taken special care in removing the bandages.
I tried to calm my wife and assure her that her mother would be okay. But, I wasn’t very helpful. She settled down but I sensed she was outraged by the nurse’s carelessness. I stepped in the hallway and talked with the nurse who explained she was being very careful. Sometimes the skin is so sensitive, that even extra care doesn’t make a difference. I sensed that my wife was having a meltdown over the situation but also it was really her grief. She was realizing that here mother was dying and she was losing her.
I needed help, because I did not have the nurture of a woman to help my wife in her grief. I called our daughter from Maine who was staying at our house. I ask her to come to the hospital and be with her mom. I knew it would take 20-30 minutes for her to come so I then called my wife’s best friend and told her what happened. She said, “Let me talk with her.” I gladly agreed and handed my phone to my wife, telling her that her friend, Deb, was on the line.”
It worked. My wife settled down and a few minutes later our daughter arrived which also helped to give the nurture she needed in that difficult time.
The nurturing power of God can work through us too when we see those around us who need a little nudge. God is like a woman, who nurtures us throughout our life’s journeys and even beyond. Sometimes we need wisdom and strength, but many times we need nurture to help us through our struggles.
* * *
Destinations Unknown
by Keith Wagner
Acts 16:9-15
In his book, A Mirror for Disciples, Robert C. Tannehill said, “Our lives are a rhythm of opportunities seized and ignored…but we often miss an opportunity because we are looking for the wrong thing.”
Are you looking for the wrong thing? Perhaps you are stuck. Perhaps your life is like a merry-go-round and you never seem to get anywhere. Or maybe you feel trapped, unable to pursue your dreams and you don’t feel a sense of purpose or fulfillment. Most everyone I know, including myself, has had opportunities, but we fail to seize them because of fear. We are afraid to leave the security that we have sheltered ourselves with. We live in our man-made cocoons, surrounding our lives with walls, comfort and business as usual. Any kind of change scares the heck out of us.
When I was teaching “Interviewing and Counseling Techniques” a few years ago, one of my students had an assignment where they described their cultural context; their place of origin, heritage, and environment where they have been raised. One student said she was from a small town and she planned to live in her small town the rest of her life. She liked to “hang out” with her friends and family and enjoyed the low-key atmosphere of her surroundings.
Why change the course of her life? Why leave the security of familiar territory? Perhaps she has not yet realized an invitation to begin a new adventure. There is nothing wrong with living in the community in which you grew up in. However, the world is huge and someday God will call or invite us to a new destiny. When we accept the call to discipleship we discover a much larger world to live in and a greater purpose other than our own. We discover a greatness which makes our ordinary lives unimportant.
For me, Paul received a challenge to move on when he was encountered by a Macedonian who said, “Come across to Macedonia and help us.” Paul was being challenged to leave the town of Troas and travel to Macedonia. Consequently he made a run, or sailed to Samothrace and continued his journey to the Roman colony of Philippi.
His journey led him to a group of faithful women who opened themselves to Paul’s teachings.
We humans don’t deal with change and loss very well. We are attached to our stuff, our homes and our work and to lose any of those is scary. When unpredictable losses happen they knock us off balance and we live in fear. Just because life disrupts us doesn’t mean we are finished. The invitation to heed God’s call can come at any time, most likely a time when it is most inconvenient. When we have the courage and faith to heed the call I believe we realize a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
In December, 1914, Edison Industries was destroyed by a fire. The loss exceeded 2 million dollars, almost all of Thomas Edison’s work. Edison was insured for only $238 because his building was constructed of concrete and people at that time thought it would be fireproof. At 67 years of age, Edison watched his life’s work go up in flames.
The next morning, after the firefighters had brought the inferno under control, Edison surveyed the damages and his charred dreams and crushed hopes. As he surveyed the scene he said, “There is great value in losing everything. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God I can start anew.” Three weeks later, Edison produced the first phonograph.
Heeding the call requires faith. Paul had no idea where his new journey would take him. Heeding the call of God does not mean we have to quit our jobs, abandon our families or even leave our hometowns. What needs to be left behind are those habits and attitudes that paralyze us and inhibit us from making changes in our lives that will enhance our faith. Paul moved on in faith. He was open to a vision for a better world and what he discovered there were other faithful people in other lands.
*****************************************
StoryShare, May 26, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2019 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“The Nurturing Trait of Faith” by Keith Wagner
“Destinations Unknown” by Keith Wagner
The Nurturing Trait of Faith
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 67
When Paul met up with Lydia and some other women who were praying and worshipping in Philippi, they were inspired by his words. Lydia was baptized and insisted that Paul be a guest in her home, signifying her passion for the faith.
I believe this incident of the coming together of faithful men and faithful women clearly affirms women are included in the community of faith. As the Psalm reads, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”
In Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul, there is a story about a young mother and her son that illustrates the nurturing trait of faithful women. Little Justin Car, 4 and 1/2, was put in time out for getting into mischief. He was very unhappy about it and after a few minutes he said, “I’m going to run away from home.” His mother, Lois Krueger, said, “You are?” But, like all good mothers she looked into his sad little eyes and felt his pain. She knew deep inside he was saying, “Please don’t ignore me mommy, please notice me and make me feel loved.” So Lois switched into her nurturing mode and tenderly spoke to him. “Okay, you can run away from home,” she said. “Let’s see, we’ll need to get your coat and pajamas…” Justin then replied, “Mama, What are you doing?”
Lois, being the nurturing mother she was, then added, “We’ll also need to get my coat and pajamas and pack them in your bag. Are you sure you want to run away from home?” “Where are you going, mommy?” Justin cried out. “Well, if you’re going to run away from home, I’m coming with you. I wouldn’t want you to be alone, I love you too much,” she replied. “You’re coming with me?” he asked. “Yes, because I love you and my life would never be the same without you.” “Can Daddy come?” he said. “No, Daddy has to stay home with your brothers,” his mother replied. “Can Freddie (his pet hamster) come?” he said with desperation. “No, Freddie has to stay home too,” his mother stated firmly. Justin thought about what his mother had said and stated, “Mama, can we stay home?” His nurturing mother quickly responded, “Yes, Justin, we can stay home.”
Lois knew her son didn’t want to run away from home. What he needed was some encouragement, a gentle nurturing nudge. Lois knew in that moment what a wondrous gift that motherhood can be. She realized her son just wanted to be cuddled and molded into an adult masterpiece. She also learned that she could never run away from an opportunity to show her children how much she loved them.
We normally think of God as mighty, powerful, wise and strong. Most of our images of God are male. God however has a nurturing side and frequently shows female attributes. God is love, kind, compassionate and I believe, very nurturing.
In my ministerial career I have had countless situations where folks were critically ill and dying. There were times when I felt totally helpless. I didn’t know what to say. Prayers were most always appreciated but I always felt I needed to do something more. In retrospect I realize that I am sometimes unable to give the nurture that is needed in crisis situations.
A few years ago my mother-in-law was dying in the hospital. She was extremely weak, her weakness due to her age and ovarian cancer. Her skin was very thin and therefore she required special bandages for her arm where her intravenous was inserted. At one point a nurse came in to change her port and insert a new one. When she removed the bandages she tore the skin on my mother-in-law’s arm and she cried out. My wife was with her and it upset her that the nurse had not taken special care in removing the bandages.
I tried to calm my wife and assure her that her mother would be okay. But, I wasn’t very helpful. She settled down but I sensed she was outraged by the nurse’s carelessness. I stepped in the hallway and talked with the nurse who explained she was being very careful. Sometimes the skin is so sensitive, that even extra care doesn’t make a difference. I sensed that my wife was having a meltdown over the situation but also it was really her grief. She was realizing that here mother was dying and she was losing her.
I needed help, because I did not have the nurture of a woman to help my wife in her grief. I called our daughter from Maine who was staying at our house. I ask her to come to the hospital and be with her mom. I knew it would take 20-30 minutes for her to come so I then called my wife’s best friend and told her what happened. She said, “Let me talk with her.” I gladly agreed and handed my phone to my wife, telling her that her friend, Deb, was on the line.”
It worked. My wife settled down and a few minutes later our daughter arrived which also helped to give the nurture she needed in that difficult time.
The nurturing power of God can work through us too when we see those around us who need a little nudge. God is like a woman, who nurtures us throughout our life’s journeys and even beyond. Sometimes we need wisdom and strength, but many times we need nurture to help us through our struggles.
* * *
Destinations Unknown
by Keith Wagner
Acts 16:9-15
In his book, A Mirror for Disciples, Robert C. Tannehill said, “Our lives are a rhythm of opportunities seized and ignored…but we often miss an opportunity because we are looking for the wrong thing.”
Are you looking for the wrong thing? Perhaps you are stuck. Perhaps your life is like a merry-go-round and you never seem to get anywhere. Or maybe you feel trapped, unable to pursue your dreams and you don’t feel a sense of purpose or fulfillment. Most everyone I know, including myself, has had opportunities, but we fail to seize them because of fear. We are afraid to leave the security that we have sheltered ourselves with. We live in our man-made cocoons, surrounding our lives with walls, comfort and business as usual. Any kind of change scares the heck out of us.
When I was teaching “Interviewing and Counseling Techniques” a few years ago, one of my students had an assignment where they described their cultural context; their place of origin, heritage, and environment where they have been raised. One student said she was from a small town and she planned to live in her small town the rest of her life. She liked to “hang out” with her friends and family and enjoyed the low-key atmosphere of her surroundings.
Why change the course of her life? Why leave the security of familiar territory? Perhaps she has not yet realized an invitation to begin a new adventure. There is nothing wrong with living in the community in which you grew up in. However, the world is huge and someday God will call or invite us to a new destiny. When we accept the call to discipleship we discover a much larger world to live in and a greater purpose other than our own. We discover a greatness which makes our ordinary lives unimportant.
For me, Paul received a challenge to move on when he was encountered by a Macedonian who said, “Come across to Macedonia and help us.” Paul was being challenged to leave the town of Troas and travel to Macedonia. Consequently he made a run, or sailed to Samothrace and continued his journey to the Roman colony of Philippi.
His journey led him to a group of faithful women who opened themselves to Paul’s teachings.
We humans don’t deal with change and loss very well. We are attached to our stuff, our homes and our work and to lose any of those is scary. When unpredictable losses happen they knock us off balance and we live in fear. Just because life disrupts us doesn’t mean we are finished. The invitation to heed God’s call can come at any time, most likely a time when it is most inconvenient. When we have the courage and faith to heed the call I believe we realize a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
In December, 1914, Edison Industries was destroyed by a fire. The loss exceeded 2 million dollars, almost all of Thomas Edison’s work. Edison was insured for only $238 because his building was constructed of concrete and people at that time thought it would be fireproof. At 67 years of age, Edison watched his life’s work go up in flames.
The next morning, after the firefighters had brought the inferno under control, Edison surveyed the damages and his charred dreams and crushed hopes. As he surveyed the scene he said, “There is great value in losing everything. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God I can start anew.” Three weeks later, Edison produced the first phonograph.
Heeding the call requires faith. Paul had no idea where his new journey would take him. Heeding the call of God does not mean we have to quit our jobs, abandon our families or even leave our hometowns. What needs to be left behind are those habits and attitudes that paralyze us and inhibit us from making changes in our lives that will enhance our faith. Paul moved on in faith. He was open to a vision for a better world and what he discovered there were other faithful people in other lands.
*****************************************
StoryShare, May 26, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2019 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
