“And let
us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another,
studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds
and noble activities....” Hebrews 10:24 AMPC
Dinner was over, and the kids were excused from the table. Our evening routine was to clean up the
kitchen while the children wore out their wiggles in the adjacent family
room. Cushions came off the sofa and
were piled high in the center of the space for another game of wobbly boat.
Climbing atop the pile of pillows, the boys wiggled and wobbled,
trying to see who could stay onboard the unstable mound. One child lost balance and tumbled to the
floor, only to get up and go at it again.
We knew how this play would end, as it did every night, in tears.
As their parents, my husband and I knew the outcome of this nightly
activity would include a bruise or two, but we were willing to let the kids
continue in their fun because the point of their play was to spend the last
part of each day laughing in the arms of one another.
Children have a way of making life simple and more enjoyable.
If I overlap this wobbly-cushion-boat scene over my church family,
our simple fellowship gatherings seem much more sacred...noble even. Spending time laughing in the arms of another
human being might be the very best we can offer one another. Especially when one of us is bruised from
falling off the mountains we build.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the work that Jesus did on the
cross and continues to do each day is so we would be confident and secure in
our lives in Him. We can set down the
heaviness of the working out our own salvation, of saving others, and simply
celebrate. And that kind of safety
within the family gives us freedom to love and laugh with one another.
Do you feel a lack of laughter within your spiritual or physical
family? Does life just seem complicated
and heavy? Maybe it’s time to set up a
game night; an evening spent simply enjoying the presence of people. Consider this a sacred time to stir up love
with those who mean so much to God and to us.
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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