2B) Summary and Reflection: Chapter 2 Giving Up on Perfect
TreyAndKrys
of Jesus’ birth if we do not consider all the elements that surrounded
His birth. We have to take out the pithy Christmas carol song lyrics
and forget that we know how the story ends. When the angel appeared to
Mary and Mary agreed to have God’s son she wasn’t given any promises
or assurances that everything would be okay. Mary had to take a very
freighting leap of faith and trust in God’s plan.
B) Favored, Not Perfect: Just because we believe does mean that we
will live perfect lives without pain and some amount of suffering. The
truth is that even Jesus and Mary faced a great amount of suffering
and hardship. There is no doubt that we are favored by God because we
are His children but that does not mean that bad things won’t happen
to us. Christmas time often brings painful memories and experiences
with it and it is easy to lose focus on the miracles of Christmas.
C) The Gift amid the Pain: Even though there are painful experiences
in life we are never abandon by God. Through all the pain, hardships,
loss, and disappointments of life God never leaves us. Some of the
greatest gifts that God has given us are that He is there through the
silence and in the middle of the noisiest moments. However, we do not
always acknowledge God’s presence in the midst of our pain.
D) A Little Help from Your Friends: God is not only with us in all
that we do, He places people in our lives to help us through painful
experiences. Although the angel left Mary in silence after he told her
she was going to have God’s son, He also placed a mentor, a friend in
her life to help her through the difficult time. God sent her to
Elizabeth her older cousin, who had more life experience and a very
strong faith. We are not without friends and mentors either. We have
faith communities and people that can mentor us in our live as well.
These friends can help us when we get off track and support us when we
are feeling weak.
What quotes or statements stand out to you? What are your reflections
and or feelings about this chapter?
DAVEOJ1
Spirit works through you toward others, and through others toward
you" That has always stuck with me. When we have needed friends and
support, they always seem to be there. Without community we would not
be able to survive the messes of our lives. We need someone to talk
to and who understands us, warts and all. Friends listen without
condemnation and allow you to vent your spleen, this is often what
happens when we pray, we vent our spleen to the One who will always
listen, and while not always providing easy answers, witll allow us to
find our way through the morass that is sometimes our lives, if we
will allow it.
Krystina Kyle
God intentionally set up a mentor for Mary when he gifted her with His
Son. I have always thought that this is the role the U.M.W. is
supposed to play. Setting women up with other women who are mentors
and sisters in faith. Sadly, in a discussion with a church girl friend
who is active in her U.M.W. we both realized that we share the same
feelings of not really being welcome or included in the U.M.W. We have
chapters at our church and we try to attend but it seems that the
women who are well established in the groups don't trust us to be
leaders or follow through and their is little tolerance for our
generational differences. I would love to be more active in my U.M.W.
but meeting are not at times I can attend or now they do not offer
childcare... I remember thinking when I was in my early 20's that when
I was older and married that the women would be more excepting ...it
was sad to realize that they still don't except me and I am 10 years
older and about to be a mother... My friend and I talked about
starting our own circle to model and be an example for younger women
so that there is something for them in the future...now we just have
to find the time to do this...
The other aspect of this chapter that I identified with where he
describe Mary having baby Jesus in the manger...I am worried about
bacteria at the hospital...I can't imagine having my baby in a stable
with animals! I realize that there are women all over the world who
have babies in these types of conditions and it made me every thankful
for the blessings of doctors, technology, healthcare, and antibiotics!