Dear Baby Girl,
When you were little, I would sing the Barney clean-up song when it was time to clean up your mess. Remember that? “Clean up; clean up; everybody do their share. Clean up; clean up; everybody everywhere.” Even today, as your loving parent, I tell you often to clean up your mess at home.
Well, unfortunately, the world in which we live is in “kinda messy”. We live in a world where the flag and national anthem are an issue – where we question amongst us who is the most patriotic. We live in a world where the threat of nuclear war with North Korea could be right around the corner. We live in a world where we don’t know what is going to happen next, as evidenced by the daily events of violence in our country and in our world. We live in a world where some are very rich and some are very poor – in spirit and in wealth. We live in a world that is so sliced, diced, and dissected into groups, that I wonder when unity will occur. We sometimes live in a messy world.
In our household, we acknowledge that our world is sometimes messy. That’s the way it is, and that’s the way it has always been. This is old news. The Old Testament shows example after example of people living in a messy world. The Israelites spent forty years roaming the desert in a messy world. In the New Testament, Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the other disciples lived in a messy world. Jesus lived during a time of Roman rule where his message was radical and questioned. Paul, living in jail, wrote letter after letter of encouragement to believers in Christ who lived in a messy world. Peter, in his messy world, was hung upside down on a cross because he felt that he wasn’t good enough to die the same way as Christ did.
In our household, we give praise to our God for our messy world. I am so grateful for this messy world of ours, and I encourage you, my dear, to live in gratitude, too. Here’s why. No matter what our circumstances are – no matter how messy our world gets – you have a purpose. Paul said, “I know what it it to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12) Paul knew his purpose – was on a mission – and he was determined that he would be satisfied, even in his messy world.
So, what can you do to live with satisfaction and purpose, to be on a mission, in our messy world? For starters, never forget that it is your job to help clean it up. Clean it up. Be on a mission to make this world a better place. If you need a reminder on how to do that, here a list of “momma-ism’s” that may help you along the way in this sometimes messy world.
Remember your mission statement for your life. You must have a mission statement for your life; otherwise, you may waiver from your purpose. Here’s mine, just in case you are wondering. (Side note: Do you like Yoda? I think it’s a nice touch since Yoda exemplifies wisdom and heroism.)
Remember your life verse. You must have at least one life verse; otherwise, you may waiver from your purpose. One of my go-to life verses is Micah 6:8. View your life and act in accordance with your mission statement and life verse ingrained in your being.
When you lose your way – and you will at some point either in your words, actions, or motives – confess what you did wrong; ask for forgiveness, and work in humility and with hope to get back on track with purpose, as described in your mission statement and life verse.
Pray more, not just that God will take care of you or others like a wizard who doles out gifts, favor, and special treatment; but, pray that his plan will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Remember that you must do your part to take care of His world, as God instructs us to do. But, also remember that God is sovereign and majestic, and you will never fully understand His plan for His world.
Have courage to…
Love. Connect. Grow. Serve. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Along with the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to create change, acting in this manner is a major way to make a difference in this world – I am sure of it. For example, today while you were coming back from a camping trip, I went to eat at a restaurant by myself. On this Sunday morning in my ripped “holy” jeans and “Suburban Outlaw” minivan t-shirt, I bellied up to the bar between two different groups of black men. They didn’t know each other, and I didn’t know them. But, as your good, ol’ ten gallon mouth momma who has the gift of gab, I started talking. I complimented one man on his very cool floral shirt. (He looked AMAZING!) And, I talked Cowboys football, Dak Prescott, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Cam Newton incident with the other group of men. We just chatted away. Before it was all over with, I had asked the bartender how she was doing, and she asked me the same. I had the opportunity to discuss our church with her because she wanted to know what I had been up to. See? Love. Connect. Grow. Serve. I connected with and loved four new people all in a span of less than an hour.
Don’t be afraid to ask non-Christians and Christians alike how you are doing as a human being. When I really want to know how I’m doing, I ask my non-Christian friends and my Christian friends. If I really want to know how Christians as a whole are doing, I ask my non-Christian friends, too. They will be open and honest with me, and I love to hear their words and perspective.
Remember that lost people matter to God, so they should matter to us. There are a lot of lost people in this world – Christian and non-Christian alike – and if they matter to God, then they should matter to us.
I think that’s it for now. I love you, Baby Girl, and I am so grateful that I am on this mission with you.
Ma-Mee
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