Peering into this year my gaze and focus is clear.
“Love well the ones you’re with. Feed well the ones that are already at your feet. Minister well to the ones right in front of your face.”
It’s what I’ve sensed lately, over and over: Serve the ones that are showing up. The rest isn’t yours to tarry with.
Love well.
Feed well.
Minister well.
Not necessarily to the ones “out there” in social media world or the publishing arena or the connectors and movers and shakers. If it includes them, excellent. But their attention isn’t the aim anymore.
It’s not a declaration, really. Or a resolution. Or a promise. Or even a goal. It feels more like a mandate.
It feels true. Honest. Right.
Writing simply for the ones that can end up doing something for me, doesn’t feel like love to me. It feels like a covert transaction.
Writing for the ones in my current sphere, the ones who choose to be there (friends, church attendees, Instagram followers, commenters, etc) AND those who have to be there (my husband, my children, fellow citizens) – these are the hearts I am to tend through the words I write and speak.
This means many things. It means before I create, write, share, speak, preach – prayer is paramount, involvement is key, and faithfulness to the people is important.
To pray for them, I have to know what they need prayer for. To write for them, I have to be aquatinted with their needs and longings. To properly minister to them I have to be committed to their depth and growth. To speak life over them I have to hear The Speaker on their behalf.
Help me, Lord.
It can be hard for the dreaming hearts to show up for the constants – the kids, the spouses, the members, the ones who can get close enough to mess it all up and intrude and bruise. It can be easy to shoot for the ones that can really get us somewhere.
But when we do that, if we end up getting somewhere in that manner, we may find ourselves without the someones we overshot.
Is that what I really want? I think not.
Some would say that you can have both. You can serve the ones you’re with AND shoot for the stars at the same time. Sure, it’s possible.
But for me, for now, I feel called to feed the ones that are currently sitting at my table.
If morsels reach elsewhere, so be it.
If the folks around me feel fed, I’ve won.
Thank you God, for revelations, words, promptings that lead us to love, to the right path, to the writing path, to peace. Please bless my efforts and heart and offerings, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
May we open our hearts to your words. May you be blessed with words to show us our paths in following after our Lord.
May you and the ones at your table be filled.
Yes and amen, MawMaw. Thank you for being so faithful to read and encourage. I am grateful for you.
I agree wholly, Kate…there is a season for everything, and this is the time to gather close those of ours who need encouragement and comfort…a soft place to fall…I’m praying God grabs the earth and gives it a big hard squeeze, such as a daddy would hug his remorseful son.
Happy New Year,
Maggie Shortt
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you, Maggie.
Beautiful, Katie! Keep planting those seeds. At the right time you will reap a harvest. Blessings on you and on all your work! A bountiful 2021 to you. Love you!
Thank you for your sincere encouragement, Patty. I am grateful for you. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Love ya!
So beautifully articulated Kate! I’ve been off FB for quite some time but I happened to sign on today to check in on a few friends and I am grateful I did! I’ve been blessed by your words. They encourage my heart and confirm the direction He’s asking me to walk in the coming Year. I believe there is something very powerful and profound that He desires to do within the body of Christ as we choose to be present to Him and to those in our presence that He has called us to love. May He bless you and keep you in this new year my friend, I’m so grateful for you and Derek.
So blessed to be among that who get to feed on your wisdom. Happy New Year!
I am so glad you stopped in for a read here, Chera! Blesses me! I look forward to the powerful and profound things God desires to do this year! I am grateful for you and your encouragements and prayers!
Cindy, I am so grateful for you. Truly. So glad you are a part of our church family, that you are sitting at the table!