When Your Abnormal Becomes Normal
You've probably heard the story of the cute little frog placed in a pot of nice cool water. Slowly the water heated up until the cute little frog became a cooked little frog. He never saw, or felt, it coming.That's what happens in our families when we ignore the little changes that slowly take over our lives ... until we start looking back and wondering what happen ... and when did we stray so far from where we once were?
Losing your way
- When Sally married, she never imagined her spouse would slowly become verbally abusive towards her. She's put up with it for years. Now Sally doesn't know how to tell him to stop.
- What was once an occasionally glass of wine after a rough day at work became Nancy's beverage of choice.
- June raised her kids with good moral values—no members of the opposite sex allowed at a sleepover. Now that her son is living with his girl friend, she doesn't know if she should put them in separate bedrooms or let them sleep in the guest room together when they come to visit.
When abnormal becomes normal
- The Graduate (1967) was considered an unacceptable movie by my parents when I was a teen. Few families would think so today.
- Pictures of naked ladies in a magazine were moments to blush about when you stumbled across them in your uncle's woodshed. Now pornography is a staple on TV shows. Parents have to install safeguards to make sure their kids don't stumble across it on their cell phones.
- Cohabitation and divorce were abnormal when I was growing up. Now, both are normal.
- Movies dedicated to what used to be called "sexual perversion" are labeled "romantic" by mainstream America and Europe ... Note Evidence: 'Fifty Shades of Grey Marketed to Children.'
- Revival meetings were once normal because Jesus was coming back soon. Such churches are avoided today ... people don't want their lives messed up with a real Jesus.
Where are the women...
...who will come alongside each other to help when abnormal becomes normal and confusion or hopelessness hits?Disappearing are the small Bible studies, prayer groups, and coffee circles that women used to attend because THAT'S where they found the Christian support they needed.Work, soccer games, and girls-night-out have replaced what used to be part of every Christian woman's life.Am I saying not to work, do soccer, or have fun with your girl friends? Of course not!I'm saying you need to have a support network where you get eyeball to eyeball with other women and share your life. Give and receive Scriptural input. Pray together. And BE THERE for one another.Without it, you're fast becoming the cooked little frog.Don't know where to find a support network? Try a church or other Christian organization.No luck?Start one! Get your Christian girlfriends together for coffee once a month. Connect during the week via a private Facebook group or via text messaging. You can do this!
Where are the watchmen ...
...those that pray for their families and nation?
I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promise], keep not silent (Isaiah 62:6 Amp).And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30 AMP).
OK, so your kids and their families are busy... but Grandma, you can make a difference in their lives by being a watchman for your family.And, yes, I know you're busy too. But one day of prayer is like 1,000 years of prayer before the Lord (2 Peter 3:8).Even if you only take an hour to pray... do the math, that's a lot of prayer!(If you need some help in this area, download my book, Intercessors, God's End-time Vanguard, from Amazon.)
My challenge to you
This week BE a watchman and DO something to surround yourself with mature, godly women.God gave you a life. Let's make it a legacy.Hugs,SusanMore like this: Get Real About Fairytale Endings