This week’s article is written by Ted Kornegay, a member of Godfrey First UMC.
In our growing up we are taught that God made us in his image. There are some very confusing things about that for me when I think of the difficulties that some people have from birth and going forward in their life.
My older sister was diagnosed as manic-depressive schizophrenic after she had reached her early 20s. I know of others who were diagnosed with other defects from birth onward. This caused them all to receive special attention as they progress through life. Some are more successfully treated than others. So much is dependent on how well the parents react to the situation.
The Bible teaches us in Job: 5:7: Man brings trouble on himself, as sure as sparks fly up from fire. And then Job: 34:37: To his sins he adds rebellion; in front of us all he mocks God.
It is hard for me to bring these together with what we know from experience. Then he says in Job: 11:16. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more. Now I feel better.
But in Psalms 88:3-4 it is said: So many troubles have fallen on, that I am close to death. I am like all others who are about to die; all my strength is gone. This describes my feelings when I am depressed.
Then Jesus says in Mark: 8:34: Then Jesus called the crowd and his disciples to him. “If any one wants to come with me?” He told them “he must forget himself, carry his cross and follow me.”
So in summing it up; we must turn to Jesus and in so doing help those whose birth happenings were less fortunate than our own. We can help them. Please God, strengthen me so I can do as you would have me do.