Poetic Expression

Relationships: the journey

Relationships are the one thing we all have
in common, universally
That thing we all try to master and continue
to work on.
Relationships.

We've loved and we've hated
Quite liked and disliked,
In some, we tried our best,
Others put us to the test;
We've given in
We've given help and on occasions
we've even given up!

So many relationships have passed us by -
What's happened to him, what's happened to her? I seemed to have lost contact.
I'll call you soon, then five years on we may remember that we forgot to give them that call.

Life's so busy;
Friends, family, work, church, and voluntary activities - There just doesn't seem to be any time,
Enough hours in the day.
We've all used these statements at some time to describe some relationship of ours.

But you know, relationships we must endeavour to nurture,
Persist in building and pursue to increase value.

Mmh, relationships.

There's our work colleagues; some become the office gossip, others the department snitch.
There's the chief executive, the pa, the list goes on and on…

There's our doctor, dentist, lawyer, nurse, and milkman, the postman, gas man,
even the check out assistant, some perky, some definitely not!

Do we class these as relationships of ours?

I wonder!
You see, when we define the word relationship it means link, connection, association, so even if you walk by one of these people and think you have nothing in common, the fact that you were at the same place at the same time, makes some connection!

Relationships, so many we encounter…

There are our friends who we love dearly,
Some of who are there for a reason,
Others for a season
And a precious few for life, always loving at all times.
There are those who are reliable; they let their 'yes' be 'yes' and their 'no' be 'no' - others are still working on it.
There are the chatty ones, the quiet ones, the selfish and the selfless ones, but we love them all as we grow and mature together!

Friends we choose but our families we really have no choice!
Then there's the relationship you have with yourself,
The one where you make time for you, make time to develop, make time to grow
The one where you take time to take stock, and re-stock, the one where you work, rest and play all in balance,
The one where you don't undermine yourself, devalue yourself or give others permission to do the same!

Mmh, the relationship with you.

When last did you take time to think about you, what you need, what you desire, what your hopes are, what your fears are and develop strategies for overcoming them?

Loving you, nurturing you, blessing you, caring for you!

How much you put into you will determine how much you can give to your relationships!

And what about our marriages - if we are not careful, we can often take our husband or wife for granted. We collect too many 'they'll understand' and 'we'll get round to it', and not enough 'Let me put you first', too many 'We've been together years, we don't bother with this or that!'

Always remember marriage is a ministry
A union that is God ordained, a relationship that births new nations and generations, our next priests, presidents and kings.
Marriages are to be worked at, planned for, with and within!
It's not just companionship, but your futures are tied up in each other, so if there's anything you need that you don't feel like you're getting, begin to sow it and watch how you'll reap it!

You want more attention? Give more attention;
You want more time? Give more time;
You want more understanding, be more understanding.

You want to be listened to, start to listen to what the other person says - and even to what they don't!

Marriage is a ministry a God ordained institute, pray into it, fast about it, anoint it and reap the fruits of the signs and wonders that will come forth!

Mmh, relationships.

Then there are spiritual relationships that we must deem to honour,
For there's the pastor, the vicar, the priest and the elder,
There's the deacon, trustees and the church secretary.
There are our brothers and our sisters, the visitors and the members, the musicians and the worshippers, counsellors and prayer warriors - all making up one body, the precious body of Christ.

We don't always get it right, you see, we're on our journey too!
So just a note to the saved and the unsaved - please be patient with us for God is not through with us yet!
Love us into wholeness, pray us through our deliverance, encourage us to grow that we might become all God desires us to be!

Then there are our uncles and aunties, cousins, nephews and nieces, in laws as well - so often we only see them at weddings, funerals and christenings.
We need to make the effort, make a commitment to preserve our family trees, a phone call, a letter, a dinner invitation is all it takes to keep the extended family together!

Then there are our grandparents. For some they have passed on
But they do leave legacies of life in the form of our mothers and fathers.

Then there are our sisters and brothers.
When we were younger we used to love to squabble
And argue when they borrowed that favourite outfit or told on us for staying out too late.
Then somehow at sometime there's a maturing that takes place, a developing that leaves you admiring them, respecting them for who they have become and for whom they are becoming.
We need to tell them how proud we are of them more often, for time is very short - who was it that said our years are only lasting six months. It certainly feels that way.
It's just prophecy coming to pass!

Purpose it in your heart to acknowledge your brother or sister and tell them how proud you are of them and how much you appreciate their love.

Relationships…
Then there are our mothers who weaned us, nurtured us, instructed, and cared for us, who on occasions put their own pain on hold to sooth ours, whether it was partner trouble, business crises, troubled waters to cross - for some, mothers always seem to be there; they just always seem to know, perceive, sense or feel when something's not quite right!  

There are some who even now cannot relate to their mother figure, still working through some pain…take this as some encouragement. Mothers are not perfect at all; we may need to remember they too are still working through their own issues of life!  

Then there are our fathers whom we seek strength and esteem, a firm word and encouragement all at the right time, or healthy development we may thwart.
From them we seek lots of genuine love and hugs,
Yet some of us have never experienced that unconditional love,
that love that accepts us, just as we are,
that love that encourages us to soar like an eagle into our destinies and life plans.
That love that holds no memory of wrong, that doesn't condemn but convicts, that love that doesn't bruise or disapprove but is accepting and all encompassing,
That love that suffers long, is kind and not puffed up,
That love that hopes, that love that never fails!

Don't be dismayed if you've never experienced a love like this, for I'm getting ready to introduce you to the Father of the Fatherless, a Friend that sticks closer than a brother - His name is Jesus!
He's the Lord God Almighty, He'll be your Saviour and your friend!  

For it is God alone that can love you so unconditionally.
In Him alone our relationships make sense, have strength, have focus, endurance, laughter and joyful tears!

It is with Him that we must endeavour to be in true oneness with, for in Him alone we truly get the best from our relationships!

Reader let the journey continue…


Taken from Deep Calleth Unto Deep - Relationships
© Jacqueline Peart, Inspired by The Holy Spirit

Ministers for the Day

• Pastor Nimms Obunge - Word for the Day
• Reverend Ruthlyn Bradshaw - Thought for the day  
• Andy Colthart & DCUD Worship Band - Worship team for the day
• Eno Williams - Psalmist
• Theo Akpan - Minister of Poetry
• Grace & Donna - Ministers of Dance

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