I just want to praise the Lord today and express my thankfulness to Him for all that He has done for me. I peruse many blogspots by Christian ladies, usually younger ladies, and I am dismayed at how so many of them are filled with pride, as though by their own doing, their own hard work, cleverness, and piety, they have the good lives that they have. Websites for Christian women should be a blessing and instead, so many of them are just icky, making the readers feel inferior and beat-up, with their hands hanging at their sides, hopeless, because they have not been able to do what these other women have done. I was guilty of being prideful like that when I was younger, thinking that everything I had came about because of my own hard work, cleverness and piety. Not that there is anything at all wrong with hard work, cleverness and piety; however, even those things are the blessings of the Lord -- the physical ability to work hard, a quick mind, and salvation that is not by works, lest any man should boast; the good deeds that He prepares in advance for us to walk in, and the ability to do them. Now that I am officially a "senior citizen", I look back and realize that everything I have -- my family and the things they taught me as a girl; my husband; my two boys, which God gave me the ability to conceive and bear; wonderful in-laws; a good education; careers and money; a safe, little town to live in; great neighbors; good health; strength to keep up my home and landscape my yard; cleverness to make do with less (I call it "the gift of scrounge"); access to a good Bible education and all the Christian books and resources I need -- why, the list can go on and on. I am just struck with how all of these things are the blessings of the Lord (and the Lord has blessed me in ways that He has not blessed others, and He has blessed others in ways that He has not blessed me -- it all balances out). Perhaps when these younger ladies get old like me, they, too, will realize the grace and mercy of God in their lives and not steal His glory. For me, I feel like I am repenting in sack-cloth and ashes a lot these days, like Job, for ever having thought that I was anybody, or that I was worthy or deserving of anything. "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6).
Comments (13)
Amen! I don't think any of us praise God enough for Who He is, for all He is, and for all He has done. God bless ~Judy
@jacsnews - Thanks, Judy. You're an inspiration. Please continue to pray for our family.
I know what you mean...some blogs do seem a bit on the narcissistic side? ; )
The older I get the more sensitive I get and especially to my own shortcomings. I am so grieved sometimes when I remember little attitudes I had and spilled over to others...*sigh*
It amazes me the younger women that almost seem a bit disrespectful as well? Not blatantly, but just the way they adress women old enough to be their mom. Ought not be.
Take care, hope all is well with you! Blessings!
Hope I am not one of the Ladies you mention. Anything that I do, is all for the Glory of God and what He places in my heart to share..........Hope you have a Wonderful evening.......In Christ's Love....Monic
@magvoice - Absolutely not! You're one of the nice ones! Actually, all of my Xanga friends are nice. I have not had one bad experience. It is some of the other blog sites for Christian women which should be affirming and encouraging that end up sounding prideful and condemning if other women don't do things the way they do. Maybe there are reasons why people don't do things the way you do. But, I remember being kind of intolerant when I was young.
@thats_italian - Yes, I agree. It is as if the Bible says that the younger women should teach the older women...I guess we don't know anything. I remember being that way when I was young.
Its only by His mercy and grace and blessings that we have anything that we have! I am living a life of gratitude for all the blessings He has given to me! I am amazed at how He loves me!
Thank you for such a good post. Even though I'm not as young as I used to be (who is
) I'm forty...and yet I often feel bad when I read some of these blogs.
Thanks again for the reminder that we need to look to God for wisdom and direction not man. (or woman
)
Have a blessed day! Jenn
@jennathome - Thank you, Jenn, for your nice reply. As Christians, we should try to be more understanding of one another. Sometimes, all we can do when we are hurt by others is make sure that we don't act like that.
@GrannyKnowz - Thanks, Granny! After reading some of these condemning posts, I am trying to be more understanding and affirming of people. I think that comes with age. The older I get, seems like the less I know, if you know what I mean.
@firefighterswife - And How! I think everyone loves your posts, by the way.
@mrsgrovine - Thanks. Isn't God good? We are having a little bit of a breakthrough with our problem that I have requested prayer for. Keep praying for my family.Grovine.