Many of you reading this blog will remember a wonderful school teacher, from Granite Quarry Elementary, named Roselyn Misenheimer. Mrs. Misenheimer was my sixth grade teacher. She not only taught me, but she also taught two of my uncles and my older brother. She really liked the Robbins family! To this day I have very fond memories of her and the absolute love she had for her students. She loved us all equally and yet, she understood how each and every one of us ticked. She was one of the very first teachers that seemed to understand that I was a "social butterfuly" and allowed me the opportunity to spread my wings, so to speak. She was also the woman that God used to strike a spark in me about Africa. I didn't really remember this until one day, while asking God where my love for this country started, He reminded me. I've since pulled that box out of my file cabinet and begun to go through it. If we ask Him, He will show us.
I remember her sharing that her sister was a missionary in Africa. I remember her sharing her sister's stories about Africa and I remember my heart leaping within me. I don't remember any of the stories, I just remember the feeling in my heart. Of course, I didn't really understand what was happening. I didn't know that the Holy Spirit was using her to plant a seed in me. It may have taken many years to grow, but it does take a great long time for an oak to grow to maturity.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:3 NIV)
Fast forward several years...this next person is someone that I don't see often, however, every time I do, she speaks to me. This particular person spoke absolute life to me one day and I don't even know if she knows how much her words meant to me. Many of you also know her...Sue Fisher. I went to school with Mrs. Fisher's son, Steve. We both played basketball and Mrs. Fisher was a true fan of Steve. I remember her being at every game and always speaking and being kind to everyone.
I saw Mrs. Fisher out at a gas station one day and, as always, she spoke. I was pregnant with Michael and, as many of you know, this was not a planned pregnancy. Many people spoke unkind, hurtful words during this time, but not Mrs. Sue! She looked at me, right square in the eye and said "you can do this." Four simple words. Four...Simple...Words that, I believe, she spoke right from her heart. Well Mrs. Sue, I did do it and now that wonderful boy is married and has two beautiful children and one on the way. Thank Mrs. Sue for speaking life to a pregnant, unsure, teenage girl.
The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21 NIV)
Here, in South Africa, I've begun to make new relationships. Relationships with people that are from all walks of life, different cultures, different races, different ways of looking at things...different!
Some of these relationships have been easy to cultivate. You know, those relationships that just seem to happen and happen well. The dirt is soft and ready to be planted with friendship.
Some relationships have been a little harder. These are the ones that you have to dig away at the small layer of hard crust that cover their heart before you can get to the soft dirt. They just take a little longer.
Then there are those that are just...plain...hard. These are the ones that have so many layers of hard, packed in crust, around the soft dirt, that you wonder if there is any soft dirt. The ones that make you wonder will you ever find common ground?!
I believe that no matter how easy or how the ground is, God wants us cultivating. First, we need to cultivate our relationship with Him and His Word. If we aren't digging in the dirt of our own garden and pulling out our own weeds, what right do we have to weed in and cultivate other people's garden?
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2 NIV)
Second, we need to love. Love those that we can't get figured out. You know why? They are probably trying to figure us out too AND because God's Word says to!
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43 - 5:44 NIV)
Relationships...we all have them. Relationships that are easy. Relationships that are not so hard. Relationships that are hard. Continue to pray and ask God how He would like for you to cultivate the relationships in your life and NEVER discount the fact God may have placed that person in your life to work something out in you.
