The Celebration Series continues... part 2 of a few! ...Celebrating 5 years living with Myasthenia Gravis, I want to share my 23rd Psalm.
Last Post, I left you in the middle of verse 3. Note - I am intentionally breaking up the verses we so often read in sing-song fashion, and removing the punctuation, because I want to feel how each part of a verse stands on its own...or paired differently with the next verse.
He leads me in the
paths of righteousness – Paths. There are several. Plural means more than one! Did you notice that? I NEVER did, and by golly this one smacked me
good. How often do you find yourself
speaking down to you, and feeling horrible about the decisions you’ve made or
the path you’re on? Well I can’t count
the many times where I’ve had my own little pity party because I’m not where
I’m supposed to be. HOLD THE PHONE! What
if you ARE where you’re supposed to be?
HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS…what if you ARE on a path that He chose, and
yet YOU just won’t give yourself permission to see that? Since you’re here, why
can’t your journey be a righteous one?
For His name’s sake
– Growing up, if you were named after a family member, you were his/her’s name
sake. Because you shared a name, you
were destined to grow up with similar persona, as your name sake. Make sense?
For me, it’s a badge of honor. I share the same middle name as my mom
and my grandma. It gives me a line to my past, and I know I’m similar to both. My first name is also present on my dad’s
side of the family, but I never knew her. I do wonder if we behave in any
similar manner. Jesus is God’s son on
earth, as are we His children. We are His name sake!
He leads me in the path of righteousness, for His children, His name sake(s).
He leads me in the paths of righteousness so that I may see what it really
means to inherit His name. It is an
honor to walk with Him and to know the line to my past and to see where we ARE
so similar.
Yea though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death – “Even when I have to endure what
I perceive to be one of the toughest parts of my life…” How many times have you thought a situation
bad enough that you just want to run and hide, give up the ghost, or maybe
fight and cry like you never have before? The death is just TOO much to imagine
or believe! The financial hardship came out of nowhere and you see NO way out
of the mess you’re in! The Doctor just shook your world and you don’t feel the
energy to endure the treatment or bills!
Many times I've asked “Why me? …is this a punishment because I made bad
decisions or hurt someone?” Oh yeah, I have to remind myself regularly that the
simple answer is NO. My God doesn't bring the hurt, but by golly he’s right
there with me, when I need to endure.
This was one of my bigger ‘AH HA’ moments when reading the
23rd Psalm this go ‘round…watch this…
“He leads me in the paths of righteousness…even though
these paths will cross through the valley of the shadow of death….” ...Yeah…even those dark times in our lives….they JUST might be
part of the righteous path…heck, my heart tells me those dark times are camping
out on each and every path of righteousness. Even still, He will lead you by the green pastures and still waters as
soon as He can.
