Dear Friends,
Where do you turn when life turns upside down? What if that crisis means you cannot work the job you love, build the family of your dreams, or enjoy the last years of your life in good health?
In the months following the death of our son, Mark, I struggled to understand my role. I was not finished mothering our son. He was only 16. Chuck and I looked forward to investing in him as our youngest child. We anticipated our social life revolving around his sports and school activities. I never longed for an empty nest, but I recognized the next few years would ease us into that new season of just Chuck and me. Then as my sister Jane Anne says, life happened.
The simplest tasks fueled the tsunami of grief. Grocery shopping tortured me. I picked up favorite foods for Mark, and then remembered, Mark is gone. Women’s ministry, once a beloved place to serve, irritated me. I couldn’t bear to listen to women chatter on about how bad their day was because of a flat tire or a feverish child. Rather than screaming that they knew nothing of bad days, I simply stopped going. Previously I loved Sunday mornings where I connected with friends and new people in the church. Now, each touch drained emotional energy I could not afford to lose. Everything that identified me: mother, women’s ministry leader, and pastor’s wife slipped away. Who was I really? What was my purpose now?
This week we will get a glimpse into how a mission statement becomes a timeless cornerstone. Some readers might prefer “vision statement” to “mission statement.” A vision statement typically describes where I one day hope to arrive, whether in my personal or public life. A mission statement typically briefly outlines how I will accomplish that vision. For our purposes, I’m using the term “mission statement” to represent both. If the idea of a vision/mission statement is new to you, research the difference and determine the best way to make a vision/mission statement work for you.
Whether you call it a “vision” or “mission” statement, when life blows up, such a statement can anchor us and remind us that our circumstances do not define who we are.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 NIV
For today, spend some time thinking about Philippians 1:21 – Paul’s mission statement. This week we will see one event where Paul pushed his response to a prison cell through this grid. Do you have a mission statement?
Treasured by Him,
Sharon Betters