6 minute read
Through a Mother’s Eyes
Going Deep
BY DIANE CHEVELDAYOFF
GOD LONGS FOR US TO SOAK IN HIS CREATION,
RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE EVEN THE SMALL THINGS OF LIFE,
AND STAY CLOSE TO THE ONE WHO CAN KEEP US SAFE.
As I watched two of our adult girls prepare their gear to go snorkeling, or some call it free diving, in the Pacific Ocean, the questions started flooding my mind. My eyes scanned the surroundings and then intensely focused on the building waves as they violently crashed on the rocks and the surf. My thoughts escalated along with my concerns for my children’s safety. One adult daughter is more experienced in the sport than the other, but both are healthy and strong swimmers. Yet my thoughts were captured by the unknowns. The strength of the current, the presence of sharks, and the possibility they would become disoriented or separated, along with other unpredictable attributes and elements of the ocean, caused my thoughts and emotions to reel.
Would the experienced one push the other beyond her limits?
Would they stay together and be aware of each other and their surroundings?
Could they accept and admit their limits, choosing safety even if it would appear as weak?
Would they recognize if their energy were to get depleted and turn back if necessary?
Would they see the true beauty and enjoy the memories of this experience together, regardless of circumstances?
As these questions rushed upon me, I realized that they apply to many aspects of life and can be a concern at any age in any circumstance.
Let’s look at these same questions with different surroundings or angles as they apply to believers and follow through with some thoughts that follow the Bible’s teachings:
Will the experienced believer draw a new believer closer to God or push them away? We need to help mentor new believers without making them feel inadequate. There is a fine line between gently guiding someone and overwhelming them with the need to measure up.
Are we aware of our surroundings? We should always hold ourselves accountable for the example we portray to others by what we do, what we say, and even the places we go.
Do we hold firm to our convictions and truth, not allowing this world to pull us beyond our limits? God calls us to hold to His teachings and not embrace the things of this world—those things not of God or honoring to Him.
Are we so busy that we don’t take time to rest in God’s presence? He wants to be in our presence, speak to us, guide our decisions, and influence our future. But it can be tempting to turn to Him only when we are depleted and need Him to fill us.
Do we really appreciate all that is around us? God longs for us to soak in His creation, recognize and appreciate even the small things of life, and stay close to the One who can keep us safe.
We never outgrow being tempted by our peers. This world will continue to influence our lives and our choices. Therefore, it’s important that we do life with like-minded people who will lift us up and bring us closer to God. In the article, “A Focus on Him—Whoo Do You Associate With?” (published in the 13th edition of Voice of Truth), Lillian Cucuzza shared the story of an owl who had a fatal encounter due to ingesting something toxic. Then she asked the question: Do we put ourselves in a toxic environment? How often do you and I allow ourselves to be influenced by toxic relationships or surroundings? (If you didn’t get a chance to read her article, be sure to go back and do so. I highly recommend it. You can view the digital version at womenworldleaders.com)
IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO LIFE WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
WHO WILL LIFT US UP AND BRING US CLOSER TO GOD.
It’s easy to compromise with comfort, being pulled down or keeping the status quo. But God wants to lift us to a higher level by continually drawing us closer to Him. A daily prayer we’ve had for our girls is, “God, please surround them with godly friends who will draw them closer to You!” I used to petition Him to send a godly friend, but then God reminded me it takes an army, so I started asking Him to surround them with godly friends. There is quite a difference between these two prayers. We need to be specific. Regardless of our age or spiritual maturity, we should pray this for our children and ourselves. It only takes one person, event, or season to pull our attention away from our heavenly Father, blurring our focus and allowing a slow fade into worldly views and desires.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THOSE WHO WANT TO DRAW YOU
TO A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
The old saying is you are who you hang with. Our girls are realizing how true this is. Who do you go deeper in life with? We all need mentors to hold us up and to whom we can be accountable. At times, we all need others to help us hold to healthy boundaries. And we especially need to have others to turn to for answers and for refreshing. Soak in these scriptures and really make it a priority to hang with the right people who truly care. Surround yourself with those who want to draw you to a deeper relationship with Christ.
Proverbs has several reminders: Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (Proverbs 27:6 NLT). Stating it slightly differently is: The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense (Proverbs 27:9 NLT). May we all be that kind of friend. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend (Proverbs 27:17 NLT). These certainly lay the foundation.
THE HEARTFELT COUNSEL OF A FRIEND IS AS SWEET AS PERFUME AND INCENSE. (PROVERBS 27:9 NLT)
We all need to be careful with the waves of the world threatening to beat us down. It’s easy for life’s issues to stir the waters around us, making it murky and difficult to see clearly. Outside influences that say you are weak and make you insecure in your decisions are abundant. God’s Word will lift you up, help you see clearly, and strengthen you. We must ask God to surround us with the right people and give us wisdom to make the right decisions. He will keep you strong as you navigate the turbulent waters of life.
There are friends who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24 NLT).
Diane has 40+ years in the hospitality industry—planning, contracting, and executing meetings and events worldwide. She and her husband Les, married over 31 years, have three beautiful adult girls. She supports his pastoral role, and as AACC-certified coaches, they enjoy helping others have healthy relationships. Contact Diane at Diane@ExecutiveDiamond.com (www.ExecutiveDiamond.com)
