faithMile

by Staci Stallings

In the abyss between life and death resides only faith.
Experts call this abyss “Motherhood.”

Lying on a cold, hard bed only six months along with my first child, I faced the frightening implications of this truth. My body shook uncontrollably as abject terror clutched at me. My only lifeline was my husband’s hand clutching mine over the abyss as love for life—mine and the tiny, still-unseen child’s—burned deep in our hearts. One after another after another the nurses piled the bloody sheets into the corner until the doctor pronounced those fateful words, “The baby’s coming.”

Only then, with control slipping past me into a haze of drugs and fear, did I make that one, final leap—the leap from control to faith—the leap from childlessness into motherhood.

My next recollection was my husband’s hand once again holding mine as he said the words that officially changed my life, “We have a little girl.”

The images of the next two months blurred together as ups and downs alternated at break-neck speed. One minute spent holding my two-pound and yet weightless daughter in my arms versus the next three weeks spent holding only tiny fingers through the isolet window—waiting for the next opportunity to take my baby out of the incubator again.

The drugs, powerful enough to keep her safe from infection, again and again blew through her small veins while all I could do was watch, pray, and hang onto the faith that somehow we would get through this. If we could just make it to the next horizon, through the next transfusion and the next round of drugs, then I could live again. Until then survival was my only goal.

In the darkness of a soul in crisis, my prayers became much deeper. No longer were they for selfish requests. Now they were centered wholly on the tiny baby God had entrusted to my care. The Lord has said, “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you” (Psalms 55:22), and during those long days, that was what kept me going.

As good as that sounds, however, reality was that my only real positives at the time were formed by the negatives. “It’s not pneumonia.” “It’s not an infection.” “We won’t have to put the IV in her head—this time.” The struggle to live was being waged not only by the tiny baby lying helplessly in the incubator, but by her mother’s spirit as well. Fear laced every call to the hospital, every question, every conversation. But always the faith remained. Somehow we would make it. Somehow God sustained me. Somehow.

Then in one faltered heartbeat the negatives became negatives again, and I faced a test of faith more terrifying than my own journey through the abyss—my baby’s journey to the edge of the River Jordan. All her veins had been blown, and a new IV would have to go in her head—all the other options had been exhausted.

In utter desperation my husband and I left the hospital, and on a rain-soaked highway with the amber glow of the streetlights flashing above me, I reached a place that I never even knew existed—the place where faith no longer resides.

“Why?” I asked the darkness around me. “Why?”

But God has promised, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), and I am here to tell you, He does send messengers to help when you ask. Truth is, mine was sitting right by my side—exactly where he had been through the whole ordeal. Slowly my husband reached over, took my hand, and spoke the words that I would cling to not only for this one night but for the rest of eternity. “She’s going to be okay. You’ve just got to have faith.”

Every day for the next five years that faith has been tested over and over again. Every time I let my baby—big girl, now—off at play school. Every time my second daughter lets go of my hand and walks off on her own. Every time one child or the other screams in pain or in fear at two o’clock in the morning—the words come back to me, “She’s going to be okay. You’ve just got to have faith.”

In the days to come, the phrase will only become more powerful. During the long nights when the girls fail to call and on the days when they experience their own griefs, the words will be there to help me through. Time and again as I hold my children for one brief moment and then release them into the abyss, the words will be there.

Through school, best friends, boyfriends, first dates, first heartbreaks, in partnership with God and my husband, I will remain the rock on which these two girls can build their lives. Until someday in some beautiful sunlit church, I will watch from a front pew as they stand before God and pledge themselves to another forever. Then as they turn, kiss me, and walk away into their own lives, the words will again be there. “She’s going to be okay. You’ve just got to have faith.”

The day will come of course when the abyss will stretch before me again “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

In some darkened room on another cold, hard bed I will step toward the abyss to make my final journey home. However, this time I will have not one but three sets of hands to hold onto. Then, looking up into the eyes of the two beautiful women my daughters have become, the sadness at our imminent parting will be there, but a greater understanding will hold me also.

Beyond a doubt, I know that as I slip from the darkness of this world into the light beyond, I will hear that voice one more time: “They’re going to be okay. You’ve just got to have faith.”

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Are you tired of all the trash labeled “entertainment” these days? If so, you are invited to visit the author of this article, Staci Stallings, at http://www.stacistallings.com or check out her books at Amazon An Inspirational Romance Author, Staci welcomes all visitors to read sample chapters of her work, powerful and uplifting articles, her free monthly newsletter “On Our Journey Home” which is featured on the site, and Faith Stories from around the globe. You will feel better for the experience!

I just read an excellent summary of a Keynes-based economy. Here is my favorite exerpt:

“Remember that money is just a kind of illusion. In reality, there are just people who want things and people who make things. But we’re stuck in a completely ridiculous situation: there are lots of people who desperately want jobs making things — they’re literally not doing anything else — while at the same time there are lots of people who desperately want things made. It seems ridiculous not to do something about this just because some people have all the little green sheets of paper!”

This, to me, is EXACTLY the question! What are we to do about this? My proposal was to abolish money altogether and count productivity instead. However, Keynes has presented a workable formula already. And that’s not all. The formula that Keynes presented wasn’t even originally his. Keynesian economics is akin to SABBATH economics of the Bible!

The Bible declared every 7th year that debts would be cancelled and everyone would start from zero. That’s basically the wealth distribution that Keynes describes. Once the poor were no longer in debt, they would spend their non-owed money to keep stimulating the economy. In essence, to keep buying new things instead of paying off things already bought.

Instead of a new solution to the economic crisis, maybe we should just go with the old one.

Keynesian article here: http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/keynes

© Copyright 2001, By Jan Wallen
http://www.straightpaths.com

Two businessmen each had a small grocery store. The first businessman only had five workers, and the second businessman had twenty. Although there was always a great deal of work to be done, the first businessman’s employees worked more happily and effectively than the second businessman’s workers. The twenty workers constantly fumbled and grumbled as they went along with their daily tasks. The first businessman was more successful, and his business more profitable, than the second businessman. The reason? The first businessman led his workers using the “Jesus management” style while the second businessman led his workers using the “carrot and stick” style.

The first businessman, who had a good relationship with his employees, looked upon himself as a servant too –

“But Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.'” – Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)

The first businessman was owner and head, and yet, he treated his workers as if he were their servant. And because he led by good example, his workers worked out of genuine love for the tasks given to them.

The second businessman’s “carrot or stick” style showed a measure of effectiveness in the beginning — Every time he dangled a monetary benefit (the carrot) for a job well done and issued a threat to fire them (the stick) if they didn’t work well, his workers worked diligently. But only for a short time. After a while, the workers realized how their employer was abusing the authority he held over them. With the threat of being fired constantly looming above their heads, they were forced to work, but not out of love for the work they did.

As Christian employers, we are given a huge responsibility on how we are to manage our employees. We cannot be called Christian employers by mistreating and abusing our exercise of authority over our workers. There is nothing Christ-like about having a relationship with our workers that is driven by abuse of power and authority. Nor is it Christ-like to be driven by profit while ignoring the needs of our employees. Are they over worked? Are we paying them much less than what they should receive? Are they safe while they do their work?

It will serve us well to remember that there is more to making profits and keeping the pockets of stockholders fat. True success is achieved when our workers give us their full commitment and loyalty because they believe we have and are treating them fairly. We are also responsible for giving our employees equal treatment. Thus, there is no reason for us to show that we favor one worker over the other just because he or she is a relative or a member of the same organization.

“And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a master – God in heaven.” – Colossians 4:1 (The Message)

As Christian employers, our responsibility to our workers goes beyond paying fair wages and providing good working conditions. We also have the responsibility of leading by demonstrating good examples every day. It is the principle of leading by serving.

To go back to the story of the two businessmen, the first businessman with the five happy and content employees created a daily schedule of putting one person in charge of opening and closing the store, sweeping the floor and cleaning the toilet. Instead of excluding himself from the schedule because he owned the business, he listed his name too. When it was his turn, he did the tasks just as all his other workers did. In the process, he was able to communicate with his workers that he was “one of them.” That simple act reinforced a positive working environment for his workers because they felt at ease knowing he did not resort to using his authority over them.

This is the essence of what the first businessman in our story did for his workers:

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” – 1 Peter 5:2-3

As Christian employers, it is also our responsibility to care for our employees – to train them, to be sensitive to their needs, and to develop their skills so that they may be better workers and individuals. Not only are we morally responsible for our workers, we are also mentally and spiritually responsible for them. True, fair wages and good working conditions are essential, but we should also provide more. Allowing workers to initiate and organize Bible studies during free hours and encouraging them to practice their religious beliefs in the workplace without letting it interfere with their work are some ways we can promote a sense of openness and trust among our workers.

As a Christian employer, examine yourself and your relationship with your employees. Ask yourself one simple question: Which businessman am I?

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Jan Wallen is the owner of http://www.straightpaths.com a site dedicated to helping Christian business people conduct their businesses based on Christian principles. Her free bi-monthly newsletter, the Straight Paths Ezine, is filled with sensible, practical advice to help you in the work place. Subscriptions are available by visiting her website or you may send a blank e-mail to straightpaths@aweber.com