"Hi. How are you?"
This is a common greeting.
Why are we afraid to ask this and give the real answer?
Why, when we are asked, do we answer "fine" 90% of the time?
Is pride what keeps us from sharing our brokenness?
Not being willing to say that I am not handling this stress or that stress is
not only damaging, but is stealing.
Part of the job of the church, as a whole, is to
'bear one another burdens'
(Gal 6:2)...
That should include our willingness to share when we are broken or hurting.
There is nothing 'unspiritual' in being tested by the Lord with brokenness or hurt.
James 1:1-5 reminds us to count it all joy.
So, then, why are we afraid to answer the above question with:
"Honestly, my heart is broken due to a wayward child."
"Honestly, my heart is broken due to a wayward child."
"Not okay. My hubs and I just had a fight."
"Frightened, we just lost our only income."
"Angry. I just lost my child."
"Lonely. My wife left me."
"Scared. My mom just found out she has a terminal illness."
"Unprotected. My parents just split up."
"Misunderstood. My siblings read my motives incorrectly and I didn't communicate them well."
As a member of the church, I am asking....
When I ask you to answer 'how you are doing?' to be honest with me.
But the flip side is to know that my hubs and I
decided a few years that when someone asks us how
we are doing that we are going to respond with
"Do you really want to know or are you just being polite?"
We appreciate honesty and those who are willing to be real with us.
By the way, if you see us fighting in the church parking lot or foyer
feel free to stand and watch/listen or not, but
don't pretend you don't know how to pray for us.
:)
Love and blessings...
