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Each week Pastor Sarah blogs on the Scripture for Sunday's upcoming sermon. Use this entry as a way to prepare your heart and mind for worship. See you Sunday!
Sunday's Scripture ~ John 4:4-29a, 36.
As this pandemic experience continues, I feel like my 'bucket' becomes all the more empty...all the more dry. The days trudge on...time ticks on...and even in the midst of so much same...the enormity of the 'new same' is weighing on my heart. I think it is weighing on all our hearts.
Yesterday as evening was making its way into night, my phone rang. It way my best friend calling...and she asked me to look outside. And there she was. Having driven over from Lakeland. To see me for my birthday. By merely connecting my eyes with hers - in person - face to face - I think I filled up my 'bucket' with own tears.
Happy tears.
My bucket remains full.
Her small gesture moved mountains of funk out of my life. It dispelled the gloomy fog that has been hanging low for some time. Becky and I are big Harry Potter fans; yesterday she was my patronus, chasing all my dementors away! Her visit - along with this fresh 'spring-fall' air! - ushered in a fresh wind in my spirit. I am so grateful.
And so today, with my 'bucket' full - I choose gratitude. To feel it. To share it. To mean it. Becky's visit reminded me that when we show up for people that we show out our care for them. That we value them. That we treasure them. That they are important to us. That they have made an impact on our lives.
Remembering these truths and speaking these truths in love to others, that is how God fills our buckets and uses us to fill the buckets of others.
Friends, you are valuable. I treasure you. You are important to me. I am grateful for the impact you have made on my life.
I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday.
Prayer: "This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!"* Amen.
*"This Is My Father's World," The United Methodist Hymnal 144.