I was pretty excited about our upcoming vacation to Durango. Ben and I really needed a change of scenery and it was perfect timing to get away for a few weeks. But, way in the back of my head, I had this gnawing fear. What if something bad happens on this trip?
It seemed like just yesterday that we invited our same friends coming this time, to join us in Durango. It was then, four years ago, that we spent the day at Haviland Lake, affectionately renamed Lake Break-an-Ankle. My dog and I had taken a walk and before I knew it, she had tugged so hard towards the water, that my body twisted, but my feet did not. I screamed in pain, loud enough to be heard back in Durango. In what seemed like hours, I was eventually carted out of there on a stretcher and rushed to the local hospital.
It was that hair-raising and excruciating experience that drove me to a fear about what might happen on this trip. Funny, how fear can creep in and affect our current situation.
Do you fear the future? You know, those things that could happen in our lives? As we live through this challenging season, I suppose most of us have encountered the emotion of fear. Have you worried about a relative getting COVID? Have you feared getting COVID yourself? Name your fears. Most of us have them.
Here are some thoughts about how to deal with fear head on:
Do not fear the future. It’s really not effective to spend time worrying about something that hasn't happened. It’s just not. We’re not in control. I keep coming back to a staple verse in the bible that deals with this topic head on: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) That verse really gives me a new perspective for what to do with my fears.
Grace for the moment. I bet you wonder how some people get through the most devastating of circumstances? It’s because God gives grace for the moment. You wonder how you’re going to get through losing a loved one? God promises to give you the grace you need for when it happens. He will be there for you. He will be enough and give an abundance of grace. His grace will uphold and strengthen you then as He is already doing now! (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Seek the Lord. What do I mean by that? Go to God. Pray. Tell Him you want to learn more about Him and relate to Him. When we seek God, He answers us and delights in delivering us from ALL our fears. (Psalm 34:4)
Share your fears with a friend. Don’t hide your struggles. Ask a trusted friend for prayer. No one needs to suffer in fear alone. God can use others to help get fear out of our head!
It’s time to be pro-active with fear and not let it take up residence in our minds. Really, don’t let fear get the best of you. Don’t let fear ruin a perfectly great vacation. Don’t let it destroy the coming days of your life. Live today. God’s got your today. He’ll be there in your tomorrow.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Monday, July 20, 2020
Why, Lord?
I stared at the news headline from a former town I lived in: Woman dead after car hits bicycle. I strained my eyes to read the name over and over. Diane Ruby. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! Diane was one of those friends you may not see for a long time, but you pick up where you left off. She was charismatic, creative, fun-loving, and a committed follower of Jesus.
I can’t seem to shake that Diane is no longer on this earth. I mourn her loss and pray so much for her family who are readjusting to life without her. Why, Lord?
Her death has reminded me of my own mortality. Job 12:10 says “The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.” There are things in this life that we can’t control, one being, the day we die. We have no control over that.
We don’t determine the number of days we have on this earth and that can be scary. We can’t fix the spread of COVID and that can be scary. We can’t control what happens in our country and that can be scary. We can’t even control what people think and say about us and that can be scary. We can’t control the impact COVID has on our jobs, finances, and future and that can be scary.
All these things can be scary, for sure. For me, my relationship with God has made them less scary. Oh, I may find myself struggling with fear or anxiety about COVID, but when I spend time in Scriptures and give God my fears, my heart is changed. I understand that God loves me and I can see his sovereignty in a whole new light. I can trust that He's got the whole world in His hands.
We live in a fallen world where there is pain and sickness and death. But, when we seek God for help, we can turn to His might, His wisdom and His peace. Any problem we face can be brought to Him. And…God longs for a relationship with each one of us that goes far beyond our problems! He loves us so much and longs to do life with us. That's beyond cool!
Today, you may not understand why certain things happen as they do. You may feel very helpless in your current circumstances. But, I encourage you, to turn to the One who is able to weather any storm. He will see you through.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
I can’t seem to shake that Diane is no longer on this earth. I mourn her loss and pray so much for her family who are readjusting to life without her. Why, Lord?
Her death has reminded me of my own mortality. Job 12:10 says “The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.” There are things in this life that we can’t control, one being, the day we die. We have no control over that.
We don’t determine the number of days we have on this earth and that can be scary. We can’t fix the spread of COVID and that can be scary. We can’t control what happens in our country and that can be scary. We can’t even control what people think and say about us and that can be scary. We can’t control the impact COVID has on our jobs, finances, and future and that can be scary.
All these things can be scary, for sure. For me, my relationship with God has made them less scary. Oh, I may find myself struggling with fear or anxiety about COVID, but when I spend time in Scriptures and give God my fears, my heart is changed. I understand that God loves me and I can see his sovereignty in a whole new light. I can trust that He's got the whole world in His hands.
We live in a fallen world where there is pain and sickness and death. But, when we seek God for help, we can turn to His might, His wisdom and His peace. Any problem we face can be brought to Him. And…God longs for a relationship with each one of us that goes far beyond our problems! He loves us so much and longs to do life with us. That's beyond cool!
Today, you may not understand why certain things happen as they do. You may feel very helpless in your current circumstances. But, I encourage you, to turn to the One who is able to weather any storm. He will see you through.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, July 13, 2020
Outdo One Another
I’m not sure where I got my competitive spirit, but I have one. Whether it’s competing in a race or showing my horse, there’s something deep within me that desires to win. If it’s a 5K and there’s someone a bit ahead of me, I’m gonna run my hardest to pass that person, no matter what. I’m not gonna win the 5K, or even get close, but if I can just pass that one person, I’ve won in my mind.
We live in a world where we’re familiar with competition-at it’s best and sometimes, at its worse. Romans 12:10 actually says “Outdo one another in showing honor.” What would it look like if we made it our goal to outdo one another in showing honor?
More than ever, our country is in need of individuals who are all about outdoing one another in showing honor. What would it look like if you took that verse to heart and outdid others in showing honor? Whether people deserve it or not (and many won’t) you give honor freely.
How do you honor your boss? How do you honor those you work with? How do you honor those who care for your children? How do you honor the waitress or waiter who serves you? How do you honor those different from you? How do you honor your parents? How do you show honor to those in authority over you? How do you show honor by overlooking mistakes of others? How do you honor God?
I’m convinced there’s a way to show honor to those in our world. The one lesson I’ve learned over time is that I need God’s help to love people well. I need God’s help to know how best to encourage someone. I need God’s help to treat all people with respect and love. I need God’s help to outdo one another in showing honor.
Scotty Smith writes “There’s always an honorable, kind way to do even the most difficult relational work- at home, at work, at church and in our culture. This isn’t a matter of being nice, but of honoring Jesus.” This is what I long for…to do the honorable thing, and with Christ’s help, I can. God, help us all outdo one another in showing honor!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
We live in a world where we’re familiar with competition-at it’s best and sometimes, at its worse. Romans 12:10 actually says “Outdo one another in showing honor.” What would it look like if we made it our goal to outdo one another in showing honor?
More than ever, our country is in need of individuals who are all about outdoing one another in showing honor. What would it look like if you took that verse to heart and outdid others in showing honor? Whether people deserve it or not (and many won’t) you give honor freely.
How do you honor your boss? How do you honor those you work with? How do you honor those who care for your children? How do you honor the waitress or waiter who serves you? How do you honor those different from you? How do you honor your parents? How do you show honor to those in authority over you? How do you show honor by overlooking mistakes of others? How do you honor God?
I’m convinced there’s a way to show honor to those in our world. The one lesson I’ve learned over time is that I need God’s help to love people well. I need God’s help to know how best to encourage someone. I need God’s help to treat all people with respect and love. I need God’s help to outdo one another in showing honor.
Scotty Smith writes “There’s always an honorable, kind way to do even the most difficult relational work- at home, at work, at church and in our culture. This isn’t a matter of being nice, but of honoring Jesus.” This is what I long for…to do the honorable thing, and with Christ’s help, I can. God, help us all outdo one another in showing honor!
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Growing in Empathy
It’s sometimes hard to have empathy when you’ve never gone through someone else’s experience. I’ve never had a child, so I don’t always understand what moms go through. Just this last weekend, I was at a baby shower and enjoyed a marvelous conversation with some ladies at my table as they shared their experiences of giving birth. Even though baby showers aren’t always easy for me, I truly enjoyed listening, laughing and learning from them. I felt so much joy just engaging in their world and being curious.
Practicing empathy is not always easy, yet it’s necessary. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The beauty of empathy is to stand in another person’s shoes. We are quick to stay in our world, and rarely venture into the “unknown.” Yet, now, more than ever, empathy is essential. Whether it’s systematic racism, various types of abuse, relational challenges or loss of work or income, or sickness, our investment in truly caring makes all the difference!
Will you ask yourself the following questions:
How do I intentionally try to feel how others feel? How could I grow in this?
How would I want to be treated if I was in this same situation?
How could I grow in listening more and talking less?
How can I build a culture of empathy in my community and work?
How could I zoom out of my own lens and try to see things from another viewpoint?
How have I judged people unfairly, not knowing the whole story? What could I do differently?
I feel like these questions are helpful for me in getting to the bottom of my empathy-lack. I want to feel what people feel and be less concerned with myself. I want to practice the teachings of Jesus found in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
When I lay aside my own self interests, hurts and pains and invest in thinking of others, there’s a feeling of joy! Why? I believe it’s because considering others’ interests links us with Christ’s character and example of humility. We emulate Christ in this choice to lovingingly empathize.
Today, I invite you to pick one of the questions above and prayerfully consider it. What changes do you need to make? How could you grow in empathy?
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Practicing empathy is not always easy, yet it’s necessary. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The beauty of empathy is to stand in another person’s shoes. We are quick to stay in our world, and rarely venture into the “unknown.” Yet, now, more than ever, empathy is essential. Whether it’s systematic racism, various types of abuse, relational challenges or loss of work or income, or sickness, our investment in truly caring makes all the difference!
Will you ask yourself the following questions:
How do I intentionally try to feel how others feel? How could I grow in this?
How would I want to be treated if I was in this same situation?
How could I grow in listening more and talking less?
How can I build a culture of empathy in my community and work?
How could I zoom out of my own lens and try to see things from another viewpoint?
How have I judged people unfairly, not knowing the whole story? What could I do differently?
I feel like these questions are helpful for me in getting to the bottom of my empathy-lack. I want to feel what people feel and be less concerned with myself. I want to practice the teachings of Jesus found in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
When I lay aside my own self interests, hurts and pains and invest in thinking of others, there’s a feeling of joy! Why? I believe it’s because considering others’ interests links us with Christ’s character and example of humility. We emulate Christ in this choice to lovingingly empathize.
Today, I invite you to pick one of the questions above and prayerfully consider it. What changes do you need to make? How could you grow in empathy?
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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