Week of August 20, 2001
Debbie B.

"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
. . . .do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you;
. . . . . .Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;
. . . . .do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
. . . . . . .Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
     Romans 12: 9-21

August is a big month in our household. There will be a lot of changes here. Our only child is heading out to college. In many ways our son will now be independent of us, a goal that we have been working towards since the moment the Lord allowed us to conceive him.

". . . . . .You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable." The Prophet" -- Kahlil Gibran

As we prepare for this "living arrow" to spring out from us, we have been gathering great amounts of "stuff" for him to take along. In our back room there is a mountain of bedding, dishes, laundry bags, school supplies, clothing, etc. All the "necessities" listed by the University for the well prepared freshman.

As we have gone through this packing process, this "bow" who likes to believe she is stable, has been searching for something else that I feel is necessary to send along. I want to give my son specific words from God that will help and guide him as he lives independently from us. I found these words in Romans Chapter 12, which my Bible describes as "duties of the Christian believer."Paul wrote these words to give specific instructions to the people who were entering the new Christian community in Rome. Paul wanted these people to live like children of the Living God, and not like children of the world. I am giving Paul's words to my son because he is entering a new community, and I want him to continue to live in a way that glorifies God, and keeps him separate from the evils of an ungodly world., God gives these words to each of us, so that we might have direction, and live in our communities as true believers trusting in His mercy, and not conforming to the sinful ways of this world.

Heavenly Father, Help us to live our lives in the way that you direct us, so that our lives may be a witness to this world of your gracious love.

Contributed by Debra B.
Published Monday August 20, 2001
Week 39 of Liturgical Year C