At an astonishing early age, I knew I would serve God. And, with all the detours, twist, and turns, I am in awe of what this service to Him continues to reveal. The love I have for Him, my family and friends are enormous! So much of it, for my friends, bottled up inside me still, just waiting to be released at the right time. I feel though, that I must prepare the recipients who now receive careful drips of this love, for the flood to come. I use drip here, because I am so careful, in the concept that while most of my friends always seem ready for life, there are a few of my closest friends who really have not experienced kindness, compassion, and unconditional love, often based on childhood milieus, all sorts of abuse, the ability to not choose life for themselves, and not feeling they are enough. Of course, this list is broad and can assume other areas of discomfort and comprehensive self-acceptance.
I can write on these things since my childhood, though very religious, produced a stiffness pertaining to intimacy and the display of love. Therefore, in a major stance, I can relate to the friends producing self-awareness around the love-deflecting issues I’ve discussed above. The themes of my childhood life was love God with all your heart, learn as much as you can, and work hard. That’s it! Family meals were important, and the idea of constant community never stood still.
With the permission of my mother, I share that on my first trip to visit my father in the United States, I truly saw what an affectionate family looked like. I was ten years old. My sister and I had a great summer in New York/New Jersey, back then. It was three months of pure bliss. We hugged and cheered each other on for almost everything we partook in. I credit my dad’s new wife at the time, also a Belizean, for these precious memories. She taught herself how to love.
As a 10-year-old going on 40 at the time, I was very perceptive. On my flight back to Belize, I planned on how I’d greet my mother at the airport. It would be full of hugs and kisses. My sister and I exited the airplane, I ran to my mother with open arms to offer a great BIG hug, and she just froze. She didn’t know what to do. This incident still returns to me, and I have worked through so many aspects of the kaleidoscope of my feelings. This dig, brought me to the consolation that my mother was still traumatized from the way my dad left us in Belize, and because of our culture, her biologically reserved nature added to her behavior. Although not always easy, from that point, I began the process of teaching my family how to love based primarily on the teachings of Jesus. I must say that I’ve somewhat been successful! (Excerpts from one forthcoming publication).
Since I have provided you with a mindful feast above, I jump to the parable of the feast (Luke 14:12-14), as an alignment to the broken-hearted, the poor, and the unwanted. A short parable indeed, which still offers much to chew on. The host “that bade Him”. Right before this statement, Jesus discussed the importance of holding on to social manners. This is one of the very reasons, I called my previous blog on verses 1-11, the Ambitious Guest. The parable of the feast (12-14) extends on friendliness, warmth, kindness, and hospitality.
The key statement of Jesus here is, “Lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee” (Luke 14:14). How often in life do we seek out influential people to help pave the way to success? How often are the poor and destitute people, neglected, because they can’t contribute to vital success? Yet, if it means that the poor could physically lay the bricks, stone, and asphalt to pave a road less rocky, then sure, they can be used through the labors off their backs!
The needs of the poor are immense. An invitation to the feast metaphorically speaks of life-food, water, shelter, love, self-love, and other means of sustainability. Remuneration from the poor may not be tangible, yet; they come in appreciation, kindness, and love, just like Jesus. For this inclination to be embedded in us, the gates of generosity must be unchained. The talk must be walked on the road of sincere gratitude for what is ours provided only by God, as we move toward the paying it forward to those in need. Benevolence must exist within the deepest areas of our hearts to recognize the requirements of whole and healthy communities. There must be a resurrection of the heart, the mind, and the spirit, of our Christian path. The world of our making dictates the stairway to heaven. Rotten wood or cement blocks! We get to choose and we will probably get there on both. But the lessons in rotten wood, may just be a bit more humbling than what the cement blocks depict.
Our Lord’s words are strong, concrete, and everlasting. When we allow Him to speak right to us through His wonderful teachings, the hardness of hearts soften (the glue). The poor, whether financially or spirituality empty, deserves a quieting of the heart. A peace so profound, like a gentle dove, rooted in a deep space of understanding, care, and the sweetest of kindest love.
Yes, so much love in me to give…
My careful approaches are slowly fading from me. Yet, the essence of their vibrations still flow within. Soon with-out, the binding of more of this love will cover the depths of silence in friends. Those who struggle to accept the realization that unconditional love exists through the direction of more time spent together, more talks, oh, and yes…walks, movies, hikes, and quiet times too. Gosh, you, silly degree! I earnestly can’t wait to capture you! I mean this! I really, really do! Sweet friends, please know that I always see and I hear you!
With all my love,
Charlotte
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