A Thorn in My Brother's Heart

    Have you ever had a splinter? Have you ever felt the small sliver of wood under your skin? This mild irritation burrows through flesh while one digs to pull it out. The idea of something ideally small has such a large impact. “Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I am pleased with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 

     Therefore I delight in weaknesses, insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. Recently I heard a message emphasizing how being a part of  Body of Christ requires one to identify their areas of weakness. These two truths resonated: 1. No matter how strong, good, perfect, I am, there is going to be a constant reminder that I have to rely on the LORD for strength. 2. There will never be any real growth in my endeavors if I am not utilizing the complimentary skills of the community around me. 

     These two truths especially touched my heart as far as my brothers are concerned. I am a thorn in their hearts. Instead of being plucked out their flesh has folded over and made me a soft place to nestle covered in their love. In this season of Father celebration I want to remind them: you are enough, you are strong, you are extremely smart, you are amazing providers. You are also human. As part of the human condition your feelings get hurt, you feel fear, you get overwhelmed. Please allow this to be a reminder that God is most honored in weakness. Like the LORD, your family gleans the most from you in your weakness. The road to success played out before us to learn from your mistakes. Honor your mountains because we applauded your valleys. 
    
    Those of us who genuinely love you do not expect you to have all the answers, and make everything okay. We fall in love with you all over again when you allow us to witness your humanity in struggle to come out triumphant through perseverance. Oppose to shouldering through pridefully diminishing trust because the consistent negative outcomes force us to question your abilities. I am strongest when I stand on my brothers’ shoulders because I draw on their wisdom, strength, courage, and unsolicited counsel. I walk out the human condition and rely on the Lord to help me die to the flesh daily.

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