Peace above all else

              When I was younger, Thanksgiving always brought child-like resentment. Here I was with a week off from school and the last thing that I wanted to do was pack my bags drive three hours over 6 mountains to Harrisonburg, VA, where what awaited my elementary eyes was a culture shock. I went from as much of a city as my hometown can be (which is not very much) to farmland, horse and buggies, and cows. Who, I thought, in their right 8-9 year old mind, would want to leave their TV, and Nintendo system, for no entertainment of any kind. (Remember, I was eight and did not know any better). You see, my family on my dad's side are Mennonites, and if you want to go learn more about them, I would suggest Googling them.
               So each Thanksgiving was filled with trips to the homes of distant relatives, conversations (me merely listening) of tractors and things associated with farming, news from the "valley" which encompassed who married who, who moved into who's house, etc. and other things boring to an eight-year-old. Everything culminated on Thanksgiving Day when my aunts, uncles, and their children brought their horse and buggies, bicycles, and few cars to my grandparents and the feast was underway. As family came in I did my best to shake hands, answer any questions about school, and stay as close as I could to my dad. When the blessing was said and a hymn was sung, (in beautiful 4-part harmony I might add) my dad went off with my mom to the "adult" table and I found a spot amongst cousins.
               At that point in time I had little in common with my cousins. We lived different lives and our priorities were different. As we got older, cousins got married, great grandchildren started joining and conversations got easier. Some cousins started incorporating electronics into their lifestyle and that eased my self centered mindset. Along with being selfish, I was very naive with a little of the naivete stemming from my age.
               The past few Thanksgivings have been vastly different. I look forward to going to see my family. The 3 hour drive (which becomes 2 1/2 depending dad's caffeine intake) is an opportunity to talk with my dad. Our conversations are steadily growing deeper, and I am blessed for that. I enjoy the absence of electronics as it allows me to draw closer to God. Ah, God, the first time our Creator hs been mentioned in this blog for purposeful reasons. It was not until the last few years of college and into adult hood that my mindset has changed,  and I have gained an identity now solely in Christ.  This has caused me to notice how God is the center of my family's life. It is evident in the way they live their lives.

              "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

-- Colossians 3: 12-17

"For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

-- 1 Peter 3:11

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
-- Philippians 4:4-7

Are you catching a theme? 

                   In watching the way my grandmother tirelessly moves through out the house, in hearing the joyful hums from my aunts as they prepare the meal, and in hearing my cousins and uncles speak about getting up and milking cows I am overwhelmed by seeing the peace in their lives. It is the peace in Philippians which "surpasses all understanding" and frees them from any stress or anxiety. It is the "peace of Christ" in Colossians, that rules in their hearts from their daily obedience to the Lord and denial to their earthly bodies. It is the peace that comes from living in reverence to the Lord. Peace the comes from loving all of God's creation here on earth! The list could go on, but, finally, it is the peace that for 21 years I could not see because I only saw what I felt they were "missing," because sin had blinded my eyes and I was transfixed on earthly matters. 

                   To me, these three sets of verses speak about the role peace should play in our lives. It is peace that is given as a gift from God as Christ reigns in our hearts. It smoothes out each of our steps so we are never rushed between places. It comes from faith in our Father and belief in the promises He has made for us. As His children, He has promised to protect us. My grandmother never takes this for granted, but lives everyday knowing her day is given to God and He will provide all she needs for the day. 

                   My grandmother, aunts, and uncles are living examples of Colossians 3: 12-17. They have been "clothed...with garments of salvation" (Isaiah 61:10) and their lives are governed by the Lord. I love them, but I love and praise the Lord even more for blessing me with them.