Have you ever felt misunderstood? Sometimes is just bad communication, unspoken expectations, or assumptions- lots of assumptions. It seems there are many positions that lend themselves to misunderstandings...being a driver, a friend, a family member, a wife, a military member, a missionary.
I love Christmas music, and lately in my musings about misunderstood ministers I have reflected more deeply on Mary and how she must have been misunderstood. A young girl who willingly follows the Lord, in spite of all of the ways other people would judge her. She accepted the gift of mothering the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing what people would think about her. What a highly honorable position she accepted at a great cost! She truly gave everything she had to follow God: her reputation, her relationship with Joseph, her livelihood, even her physical body and the remaining years of her life. What a confusing life that must have been with no one who could ever fully understand her experiences. How confusing it must have been to give birth to her Savior, and yet to raise Him as her earthly son.
There are many Biblical examples that bring encouragement to the misunderstood and the complicated lives of people. I take great comfort in them. Living as a missionary has been one of the most grueling challenges I have ever experienced. There have been incredible highs being on the front lines of changed lives and watching God provide in seemingly impossible circumstances, as well as gut-wrenching lows of disappointment. I'm sure I will share more musings of a missionary in the future, but I would ask you to consider missionaries or ministers in your sphere of influence. Would you consider sending them a note, an email or a text to encourage them today? Those bits of encouragement go a long way!
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