Reluctant Retiree

When our daughter was in middle school, she wanted to be a cheerleader. Frankly, I was hesitant. In my experience, cheerleaders wanted to be seen more than they wanted to support the team and the fans. We relented, however, and she, and the squad, did a good job of supporting the team. It’s funny, at our grandson’s high school football games, there are more families of cheerleaders than of the team.

A good cheerleader knows the score and the team’s overall situation. The cheers are then designed to encourage the team in those situations. They believe in the team and want them to succeed.

Everybody needs cheerleaders in his or her life. I am not talking about somebody with a uniform and megaphone. I am talking about somebody who believes in us. Somebody who is ready with an encouraging word. Somebody who understands our situation and walks with us through our struggles. I believe that Jesus does all these things and more. But each of us can be cheerleaders for someone. Perhaps it is for our spouse or a child. Perhaps we can cheer on a friend.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Without encouragement we risk becoming overtaken by sin. Don’t let this happen. Encourage someone today!

Have you noticed the great things that people are doing all around you? On the news, they tell the story of kids starting charities to positively impact those in need. They also tell of the heroic acts of first responders and of lives saved by ordinary strangers. We hear of organizations established to meet needs through the keen observation of our neighbors. I watch athletes do amazing things on the field. We hear of family members making huge sacrifices for their families. Then there are the people who donate kidneys to make another person’s life better.

I see and hear all these stories and wonder why I am not doing anything great. Perhaps you have the same feeling. First, I want to encourage you by saying you are probably doing some of these things. You probably are making sacrifices daily to make the lives of other people better, especially your family. You probably are generous with your time and resources to help others.

Secondly, we have to draw upon the right source of power to do great things. Doing good things depends on the right motivation and strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” So if you are ever tempted to think “I can’t do this”, go to the God of this promise and ask Him to strengthen you for the task. You and I can do great things if we are hooked up to the right power source.

‘Tis the gift giving and receiving season. Most gifts are received with joy and thanksgiving, as they should be. Sometimes, however, gifts are received with a shrug or sour expression. What causes the different reactions?

To be honest sometimes the gifts are just awful. Giving a child underwear for Christmas, not good! However sometimes a poor reaction to a received gift is the result of a bad attitude on the part of the receiver. Expectations were set too high or even something as base as greed has settled in the heart. In either case, the receiver is just not content.

In some ways it is good not to be content in life. When we are just content, we don’t move forward. In other ways discontent brings problems. We want more and think we deserve more, so we try to move forward in selfishness. This causes conflict within ourselves and conflict with others.

Paul wrote about the good type of contentment in Philippians 4:12 when he said, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Paul had experienced it all, from beatings to shipwreck. At times he had plenty and other times he had little. Yet, in every circumstance he felt contentment. He was grateful for what he had, rather than resentful for what he didn’t have. So during this season, take a little time to express your thanks for what you already have.

Have you ever wondered about the many things competing for our attention? Our bosses want us to contemplate business concerns. Advertizers demand our allegiance to their products. Family members cry out for our thoughts and actions. Politicians spend big money trying to get our agreement.

At various times and in various places it is appropriate to give our thoughts over to each of these attention seekers. The problem is that very little time is left remaining for us to consider deeper things, issues of the heart and life. When can we think about the things that lead to joy, hope, love, inner peace, strength, and compassion?

To achieve these qualties, we must carve out time, silence and solitude to think about them. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Our thoughts form our character, values and beliefs. Take care what you think about.

Long ago I gave up watching sports pregame and talk shows. Lately I’ve stopped watching the news on television. Why? Because it bothers me to hear so called experts constantly criticizing others. It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, each side is seeking to bring the the other side down. We cannot build a great country in this way.

We cannot build strong families in this way either. If we are constantly criticizing other family members we discourage them while irritating ourselves. Kind, uplifting words have far greater power to build the kind of family that we desire.

Jesus’ first disciples and apostles understood this. Paul encouraged the brethren to be kind and tenderhearted toward one another (Ephesians 4:32). In Romans he went a step further by saying, “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Just think what our families would be like if we practiced these words. Just think what our country would be like if our leaders and we practiced these words!

When we were kids, we presumed that we would receive gifts at Christmas, unless we came from poor or neglectful families. Not only that, but we presumed that we would get what we wanted.

Now that we are older, presumption comes into play in different ways. On the job, we expect to be compensated for the good work we do. At the store, we expect good service and quality products. In court, there is the presumption of innocence until proven guity. In all these cases the reward is earned and therefore expected.

It doesn’t work that way with God. There is nothing we can do to earn his favor. No amount of praying, church attendance, Bible reading or memorization, or kindness will make God think you deserve his favor. Instead, he offers grace. Grace is unmerited favor. He offers salvation through his grace. We cannot earn it. He offers far more than salvation, however. Through his grace he wants to give us eternal life, hope, love, and joy. In fact, he never runs out of good things to give us. John 1:16 says, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Open your heart to receive his grace upon grace.

If a fire threatened your home, what would you consider important to take with you before the fire reached your home? Everybody, I assume, would make sure their family members are safe first, but what else would you pack the car with, given the time to do so? Would family photos and remembrances be packed first? Or would you first take the time to rescue valuables and material items? The items you would choose say a lot about your priorities in life.

Jesus warns us to have our priorities in the right place. In Matthew 16:25 he says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus is saying that we shouldn’t hold onto the things of this world tightly, but should instead give our lives to him and trust him with it.

HELPFUL HINT: People tend to put family photos and other significant items in low and easily accessible places. We have learned, from experience with disaster relief, that these items should be stored in secure places instead. For instance, flood waters rise and destroy valuables stored in low and accessible places.

When we were young we played hide and seek. We all had a favorite hiding place that others could never find us. When the person who was “it” couldn’t find us they would call out and we would come out of our hiding place. The hiding place protected us from being found and becoming “it”.

As adults, there are times when we would like to retreat into a secret hiding place. Perhaps the demands of the day just become too much. Or even worse, a personal tragedy happens and we just don’t want to be found. At other times we may feel under attack by friends, coworkers, and those who don’t like us.

Unfortunately, as adults, there are few places we can hide and even fewer times that we can hide. At work we usually have to be available to coworkers and customers. At home the kids and our spouses or roommates demand our attention.

Where can we go to find some relief, solitude, and solace? Jesus is often described in the Bible as our rock, fortress, strong tower, stronghold and refuge. He promises to “never leave us or forsake us”. He took on human form so that he knows our weaknesses and temptations. He understands us and can protect us. Psalm 71:3 says, “Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I can continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Let Jesus be your refuge and surround you in his arms of love.

The opposite of thanksgiving is grumbling or complaining. With a world-wide pandemic and a national election, we have become masters of the anti-thanksgiving ethic. Politicians led the way with vigorous grumbling about each other. Even our medical leaders have voiced numerous complaints about the public and government. In response, public protests headline the news.

We are not exempt, of course. Our complaints about government, politicians, medical practitioners sing out. While this grumbling is bad enough, it’s our complaints about friends and relatives that do the most damage. They destroy relationships and our integrity. It is clear that we are not in a position to complain about others unless our lives are perfect.

James 5:9 warns us by saying, “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” How about we stay positive by replacing grumbling with thanksgiving?

We are a fast paced society. We not only demand what we want, but we want it now. We eat at fastfood restaurants. If we actually visit our bank, it is through the drive-thru. Especially during the pandemic, we order everything, including groceries, online with express delivery. We can’t wait for the news on television so we get push bulletins on our devices.

Is there anything that is worthy of waiting for? Psalm 69:13 says, “But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” God will answer our prayers. He may not answer within the timeframe we expect. But he will answer in his steadfast love and saving faithfulness. I’d say that is worth the wait.