When you think of the significant, positive experiences you’ve had in your faith walk, what do you think of? Who do you think of and why did they leave a mark on your heart? I love to hear people’s responses to these questions.
Each person has his or her own unique story and own interpretation of that experience. It’s a beautiful thing when a person shares their story with you.
You feel so encouraged, not only by the story itself, but more so by hearing it shared from that joyful place in the heart of the person that was impacted by the story. It’s so powerful!
Meet Gram
One of the people that impacted me very early in my life was my maternal grandmother, or Gram, as we called her. Gram was a Godly woman with a great deal of wisdom. She was generous in sharing her wisdom.
The lesson I’ve thought of most often over the years was one she taught me very early on in my faith.
About a month after my salvation, I went to visit Gram and share with her the changes that were happening in me and my life.
One particular change that I was wrestling with was with my best friend, Matt, a 26-year-old bar owner and atheist. Matt was not happy with the new me and frequently asked when I was going to go back to my old self and stop with all the “religious” stuff. It was difficult, but I felt like I just needed to continue to “be a good influence” on Matt and pray he’d come around.
In sharing this with Gram over coffee, she said, “Baby, how tall is Matt?”
“6’2,” I replied.
She said, “How much does he weigh?”
I said, “About 200 lbs.”
She said, “How about you?”
I said, “I’m 5’6” and weigh about 125.”
Gram said, “What if you stood on top of this table and held Matt’s hand from the ground, trying to pull him up onto the table with you?”
I said, “I would probably fall off the table.”
Gram responded, “This is the same for your newfound faith, honey. Though your intentions are good, reality is, if you don’t let go of the hand of those still on the floor, they will likely pull you off the table before you pull them up.”
Scripture for Meditation
“Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?”
~ 2 Cor. 6:14
