I went to visit my mother-in-law post op. As I stood there talking to her, her nephew came in the room with some flowers. He comes around once in a blue moon and after he left she said, " Oh, isn't it so nice that Johnny came to visit me?" She was so touched by his visit and I felt like yesterday's meatloaf. As I was feeling a bit taken-for-granted, I wondered if this is how God might feel. He is there for us all day every day our whole lives and yet we are more "wowed" by sports heros and celebrities we've never even met.

Hi Baked Pears,
I can understand how you must have felt. I wonder if she might of thought of her nephew as a prodical son whereas the son of the household stayed loyal as you have. She may have taken you for granted because you are a good person and she just got used to your Christian kindness. Actually, she may not realize it unless she lost it. Sad, isn't it? But you are doing the right thing. Or, she actually does appreciate you, as the father of the prodical son appreciated his loyal son, because you are dependable whereas she is happy for the nephew that was thoughtless since he come to his sences by visiting her.

Your comparative illustration is excellant! Thank you for sharing it. I've thought on similar grounds before. Even, according to Revelation, a third of the angels went bad in opposition to God. Doesn't it increase our love toward our Father for the lack of love that is shown to him by many in general?

You always have a wonderful way of saying things. And your love of God just glows off the monitor.

Thanks for sharing with us your in sight.
Victoria

I don't know, maybe God shouldn't be personified. As in, maybe he/she/it shouldn't be compared to human emotions. Why do you suppose that God feels all the emotions that we feel?

-Mike

quote:

I don't know, maybe God shouldn't be personified. As in, maybe he/she/it shouldn't be compared to human emotions. Why do you suppose that God feels all the emotions that we feel?

Justaguy First off, I'd like to say that I believe God created man and all the little details inbetween, including the emotions that he has given us. I believe He knows us like the back of his own hand.

God tells us that before we were even formed in the womb, He knew us! ( Jeremiah 1:5 )

Isaiah 49:15-16 says "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

Most importantly... Hebrews 4:14-16 says "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

quote:

As I was feeling a bit taken-for-granted, I wondered if this is how God might feel. He is there for us all day every day our whole lives and yet we are more "wowed" by sports heros and celebrities we've never even met.

Bakedpears , we can be so "human" at times can't we? Even in the way we view God. Although I believe God knows our emotions and can identify with them, I don't think he thinks of us in the same way we think about Him or ourselves.

Thankfully, God understands us and is patient with us. We are the first ones to lay those guilt trips on ourselves for not "doing" more or "being" more than we are for God. God's grace covers us and He loves us in our weaknesses because that's where HE IS STRONG!

Isaiah 55:8-9 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

I believe God is saddened when we don't draw near to Him. We are made in his Own Image. He knows how we feel and in turn we can know God as well.
Reena

i know this is a silly question but what ever happened to the wrat of god and gods wrath and the like?was all that just metaforical wrath?
see i belive in "god" in the way of an energy not a being.but as we are all composed of said energey then infact "god"would be a being as she is all beings.which leads me to belive that as long as we love ourselvs,our lives,our plnet and everything thats on it we show our love for "god".i dont understand why people idolize the "famous"they are just people after all.the only differance between us is just that we are all different.tv really is a thing of good and evil.thats why i keep mine off so much

Very interesting, all the replies. I know God does not NEED me - but INVITES me - to be close to Him for my benefit. I do not NEED my mother-in-law to acknowledge the things I do. I do them because that's who I am. However, it sure would make me feel like visiting more if she looked at me the way she looked at her nephew. Maybe that makes me a small person to want her attention, but as SMears said "we are human". It gets hard to serve someone who feels so entitled to visits and attention and having their needs met when you have needs as well. However, I am truly blessed to be the one visiting her instead of the other way around. I am not the one ailing and I am grateful for that. I got up that day, got myself ready, ate a good breakfast, and was able to drive myself to see her. That is enough. God served me with good health and I served Him by visiting one of his bedridden children. I am happy to do it. More truthfully, I love my husband who loves his mother. She is an important part of his life, past and present. What is important to him is important to me - so I show that love by helping him care for his rehabing mother. I do also love her, but some people are easier to love than others.
Ok, Ok, my lack of sleep is showing. Guess I really just need some support while supporting others. It's crazy that way.

Tammy

quote:

Originally posted by grateful:
[qb]Bakedpears,
I have felt that same "yesterdays meatloaf" feeling myself, from certain people. Can definitely relate.
I found it very interesting that you related your feelings to how God might feel. That perhaps we take Him for granted. I really think that was a very insightful thought, for I know that God does have feelings, as stated in scripture.
I found your post very thought provoking. Makes me want to strive to NOT take the Lord for granted and to be more appreciative of all He does and has done.
I really believe you have a wonderful gift for writing. You have a wonderful way of seeing things and expressing them in words.
Thanks for sharing. [/qb]

Thank you, Grateful
I would really like to write a book someday. Your comment on my writing brings back the urge. It's not that I can't find the time, it is more a feeling that I should wait. For what I'm not sure. More education/experience? I seem to want to rush things -- my time table and God's do not always match. Have you ever wanted to do something but felt you should wait even tho you want to get started very badly? Hard to explain the feeling.
The feedback is nice. Needing some encouragement for myself lately.
Have a good day,
Tammy

quote:

Have you ever wanted to do something but felt you should wait even tho you want to get started very badly? Hard to explain the feeling.

Tammy,
I have felt this way many times in my life. If look deep within myself to find the answers to "why"... I guess I would have to say that firstoff, I wouldn't know where to begin! And second, there is a fear of failure in the back of my mind. The fear isn't huge, it's just a simple "what if it doesn't make a difference at all", "what if I can't do it the way I picture it to be".....

Most recently, my husband purchased me an acoustic guitar. I have talked many times about wanting to learn how to play. I have pictured myself playing and being good at it and it's so exciting to me ( the thought).... The day he bought me the guitar, I felt excitement yet I also felt pressure and anxiety at the same time.
I felt "what if I can't play well", "what if my husband spent all this money for nothing"... ( the money issues always bring me anxiety!!) Well, I ignored those thoughts, I picked up the guitar and I am learning to read music and play by note. I have already learned the first two strings and I am learning to go from string to string. I have since taken a LONNNGGGGGG break and I ask myself why again. Again, I believe there is something within myself that doesn't believe I will live up to my own expectation.

Just tonight, I told my husband, I will be picking up that guitar again very soon to pick up where I left off. I have told myself - "this is for me...whether I am good or not....I am taking small steps to achieve my goal and it may be hard along the way...I won't give up on my dreams."

I too, love to write! I have many poems that I have written throughout my struggling teenage years and they are all packed away in my memorabilia box in my closet. I always dreamed about writing a book as well but never accomplished that. My son draws exceptionally well and I even thought about writing childrens books and have him as my illustrator. Who knows.... perhaps someday!

I would encourage you to start THAT book! All you need to do is figure out what you want to write about. Perhaps you can write something personal about yourself FOR yourself and in the process the ideas will come naturally for something publishable. Start small and let things happen on their own.

We have faith in you! Do you??

Thanks SMears
I appreciate the boost. Can I have writer's block BEFORE I START?

Keep strummin!
Tammy

Grateful
That's beautiful that you want to write out of desire. I can't think of a better motive. Sure takes the pressure off of the outcome. And you would also make a good coach. Again, your desire gives you the drive to be good at it. There certainly is a need to spread these skills and help others out of their anxiety and depression. It can be a real calling.
Good luck to you. Would love to read a book you've written some day.
Tammy