Honey, I've got some Bad News.

One afternoon a few weeks ago my husband arrived home from work.

“How was your day?”

“Well, I have some bad news…”

My heart skipped, and my mind began to race through a long imaginary list of oh no’s and what if’s. “Oh, alright…let’s hear it then.”

“You know all those winter clothes we just bought me over the weekend?”

My eyebrows lowered as I tried to process his words, “Yeah?”

“Apparently work doesn’t classify those as cold weather clothing, and we won’t be getting reimbursed for our purchases.”

I stared at him.

“Sorry,” he grumbled out.”

“Is that all?”

“Uh, yeah,” my husband observed me as if I had two heads. At the current moment, I did not.

“Honey, I think we might need to reevaluate your opinion of bad news.”

He produced a laugh, “Why’s that?”

“When I hear you say the words, ‘I have bad news’ my mind races to those three times you told me of your deployment orders. Now that was bad news! Not getting refunded for clothes is a simple… irritation.”

He pulled me in and gave me a hug and chuckled, “Maybe.”

 November is often a time that is set aside to pray for the persecuted church.  Sunday my church showed a short video about a group of Christians in Nigeria.  The video tried its best to express our fellow brothers’ and sisters’ pain and sorrow they receive simply because they were at their church worshipping Jesus.  Persecution! The bible tells us in Matthew 10:22 that we will be hated by this world because of Jesus.  We are targets!  We can each share stories of discrimination because of our belief in Christ.  But as I sat there in my church “safe” scars from my own persecutions seemed more and more like buying winters clothes—a simple irritation. 

 

All too often I have overlooked those that are still being martyred for Him.  I am not belittling my own or your oppression.  However, I think we might need to reevaluate our struggles.  I find comfort in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 which says “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” NIV

 

This week I’m going to make a point to remember that my world doesn’t revolve around me, my family or my neighbors. Instead I will pray for those that daily receive real bad news about their family members and church as they are targeted because of their faith.

 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is my stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.

Psalms 27:1-3 NIV

 

with love and prayers

Megan

 

 

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Thanks for all who entered the contest.