The New Year

       Her voice whispers (drenched in confident assurance), "You know if they would send that 15.00 to a family that needs food instead of wasting it on lottery tickets it would be so much better".  I must admit (as I agreed with a nod and a smile) she had a good point.  However, is she correct in her thinking?  Is it really that simple?  Is what I have been trying to instill in my children what's right according to God's word (even if it is a better approach to living to share rather than gamble)?  Am I creating judgmental people?  As I look back on 2013 and all that God has shown me and taught me about loving others and mission I realize I still have far to go.

       My daughter (at the sweet age of ten) knows my thoughts simply because I often share them without saying a word.  She sees where I spend my time, she witnesses where I spend my money, she knows what upsets me and she knows what I'm passionate about.  I think of the well known words of Saint Franis Assisi, "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words".  What a beautiful idea, but does my life preach the gospel?  

      I would like to think that knowing that it's better to invest in lives than to waste away money on a one in a million chance is a good example of discipleship and I am teaching my daughter well.  On the flip side, just as I begin to feel puffed up and proud that my daughter knows what's best... I realize I have just applauded her (and myself) for being judgmental.

       So what is this gospel we are supposed to live?  This good news that our lives should display.  Is it reaching out to those in need?  Is it knowing what's most important in life?  Is it empowering others with our lives?  I believe the good news encompasses all of these things yet isn't the gospel the fact that God loved us so much that he sacrificed for us?  Something so dear to him...his own son.  Why?  Simply because of a love so deep.  A genuine authentic love that can't be duplicated in our fleshly form.

  So, while I would love to tell my sweet Audrey, "Yes, giving to those in need is better than gambling away what God has given us."  I think a better approach is to say.  "My love, giving to those in need is very important and all of our blessings are given to us for God's purpose, but we shouldn't stand in judgment of others, because here's the thing: We don't know his story.  Only God does and perhaps today that lottery ticket for a brief moment gave him hope in something.  While we both know it's not a lasting hope (because only God can give us that) just for today maybe that man needed to spend that 15.00 on that lottery ticket to have hope.  Instead, let's pray for him and pray that God will fill his heart and shower him with the love and hope that only God can give.  Then maybe tomorrow he will be able to choose differently."  

    My prayer for 2014 is that God will continue to stretch and grow me.  That God will teach me to love unconditionally, to empower and pray for others to live fully into His plan without judgmental thoughts of their choices.  "Let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."  1 John 14:27