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Sep 16,  2021

 

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“[…] Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

 

Lucas is not a fan of bugs. In fact, most of the time they totally freak him out and there is no convincing him that bugs can be friends. Recently we were sitting on the deck when he noticed a large Orb Weaver hanging out, repairing his giant web. We discussed the fact that he was a friendly spider and actually helped us keep many other bug populations in check. We talked about how he catches bugs in his web and later uses them for food. For possibly the first time ever, he was easily persuaded that this fellow was a good friend to have around. Over the weeks to follow, I frequently found myself watching our friend making repairs to his web and it occurred to me the level of perseverance he exhibits. Each day, after the wind or rain leaves gaping holes in his home and means of livelihood, Mr. O.W. goes about quietly reweaving his shimmering digs. 

 

Amid all of the crazy things that take place in our world, the mishaps that occur on the drove, and the things that may not always go well personally or professionally, I often find myself frustrated, discouraged, disheartened, or struggling to hang onto my motivation. Most recent case in point was when the continual washing out of our drive and culvert finally got the best of me and led to a mini meltdown moment of questioning whether we had made the right decision. While my spirit and heart knew that was an invalid doubt/question the moment of reoccurring adversity led my mind and flesh to overcome temporarily. Even in the midst of my moment, I recognized the many things God has done throughout this journey to affirm that we are exactly where we are meant to be, and in complete honestly that sort of added to my emotional distress, because I felt like the ungrateful Israelites who so quickly forgot all that God had done for them. Which, in hindsight, I guess means that I hadn’t truly forgotten…but anyway, I digress 😊.

 

My point in sharing all of that is to lead us back to the fact that I was keenly attuned to the lesson that our beautiful friend O.W. was sent to teach me. Be about the business. Keep your hand to plow. When the web breaks, rebuild and keep moving, because the work is not done. The persistence and perseverance exhibited by spiders is truly inspiring when we take the time to reflect upon it. Consider what would happen if they up and decided one day that it was all just too much, that they no longer had the stamina or the will to continue working? On top of that, there are days (best I can tell) that O.W. doesn’t catch a single bug and all he seems to receive for his toil is another hole that needs repairing. Furthermore, he doesn’t have the wisdom or insight to understand the greater reward of his work that benefits the multitudes. He simply goes about working to “finish the race marked out for him.” 

 

Just like O.W. we don’t always have the benefit of seeing the fruit of our labor and I venture to say, we will never know the full extent of our impact until we receive our final reward, but Oh my friends, what a reward that will be! When the winds and rains of everyday life, both big and small, tear holes in our web let us remember that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which the Father has prepared in advance, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Take heart in knowing, that unlike O.W., we do have the privilege of hope that comes from knowing that even when our eyes can’t see, our hearts can know, that as long as we remain faithful to kingdom work we can be assured that there is a spiritual harvest being reaped and that our Father is proud of our faithfulness which springs forth from a heart of love, both for Him and His children who so desperately need for us to not grow weary to the point of giving up. 

 

And so, until next time, keep the faith my friends and remember “above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). 

 

~ Jen