The Gift Of Receiving

The Gift of Receiving

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:3-8 and:13-17

I love spending time with Ms. Cille. She is part of the community of women who adopted me as spiritual daughter when I relocated to my new city several years ago. Whenever I have an opportunity to sit with her and soak up her wisdom, share and pray with her, I always take advantage of it.

  During one of our visits, we sat in her home, shared and laughed.   After having these moments together, she started praying for me. As we held hands, her soft and rich voice soothed my spirit, her words washed over me and peace flooded my heart.  By the time, she said Amen, my tears had already flowed. That was the blessing that I needed to receive. As I wiped my eyes, she asked if I had extra time. I told that I did and was prepared to help her with the task.  She jumped up and said, “Oh Goody! Now I get to do what I was supposed to do the last time that you visited and I didn’t. I asked God to open up another window for me to do it and God answered my prayer!” She disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a yellow towel, that she placed on my lap and a box of tissues.  She brought out a huge bag and pulled out a large plastic tub. Seeing my puzzled expression, she looked at me and smiled, “I’m going to wash your feet, Daughter.”

I completely lost it.

                    I broke down, overwhelmed and touched beyond words.  Between my sobs, I told her, “Ms. Cille, I need to be washing your feet, after all you have done for me. No, Ms. Cille, please don’t wash my feet, let me do this for you.”  As she kneeled down before me, she looked up and quipped, “Your middle initial is P – does that stand for Peter?” Well played, Ms. Cille. I nodded my head, realizing my response was the same as Peter’s when Jesus said that he was washing their feet.   She placed my feet in the warm, soapy water and gently caressed each one with tender care. As she washed she said, “Daughter, when Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, he was showing them what it meant to serve. He knew that they would be going out all over the world and serving others. He wanted to be a living example of what they were called to do.  They were called to serve. But, you know I also think that He wanted them to remember how good it feels to receive. Servants are always serving, but we need to remember that servants need to remember to receive… and to remember that it feels good.”

We often say it more of a blessing to give than receive, however that doesn’t diminish the blessing of receiving.

“Gracious acceptance is an art - an art which most of us never bother to cultivate.  We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget about accepting things, which can be much harder than giving... Accepting another person’s gift is allowing that person to express their feelings for you. “  Alexander McCall Smith

• Receiving gives the giver an opportunity to be a channel of blessing.   Ms. Cille reminded me, “Minister Sheila, you’re always saying that you receive a blessing whenever you give, so why are you blocking my blessing when you won’t let me give to you?”

• Receiving reminds me that I am not in control … Not that I ever really was in control. I have learned the importance of being part of a community that supports and loves.  Receiving is another reminder that we need each other.

As I sat in the sacred space, I was reminded that being a servant involves being humble enough to give and humble enough to receive. Ms. Cille reminded me that one of the greatest gifts we can give is allowing someone the privilege of giving to us.  

Receiving,

Sheila P Spencer

In the Midst of the Fog

Yesterday I woke up to morning covered in fog. It was so thick that I couldn’t see the end of my block. I mentally prepared for a slower drive and a delayed arrival. Fog distorts ,obscures and hides what usually is in plain view. I dreaded the fog, but I knew in order to do what I needed, I would have to venture out into the midst of it. It meant driving out even though I couldn’t see everything that was ahead of me. I remember learning to drive through foggy California days and being told to pace myself. My fog lights would allow me to see just what I needed, even if it wasn’t as far as I would like. It was a journey from light to light. Reaching the traffic light and paying attention to the lights in front and back of you. Even in the midst of the fog, there were lights. It was slower ride but I eventually reached my destination …. Even in the midst of the fog.

Have you ever woken up in a fog? A mind so clouded with unexpected stress. It is the kind of fog that temporarily distorts and obscures our view. It slows me down, but I know I have to go through it and can’t avoid it. Being in a fog can distract and maybe temporarily paralyze you and sometimes you don’t know how you will get through it. But even being in the midst of my fog, I experienced receiving just enough. I made it through by going from light to light. Being in the fog may have painfully slowed down my pace, but I got through. You can’t see the whole path but you survive by going from light to light. It’s like faith.

Making it to the light of being vulnerable enough to share with someone how I was feeling and a safe space to say aloud that I was stressed. Yes, pay attention when the helpers reach out for help. We are not called to be superwomen. That gave me the strength to get to the next light of those who prayed for me and didn’t have to know the details. That gave me the strength to make it to the next light of having a safe place to cry. That gave me the strength to get to the next light of people asking love language questions like “Are you eating?” Food is my love language.

This gave me the strength to get to the next light of sitting down and talking to a therapist … because yes, you can love Jesus , be in ministry and have regular appointments with a therapist.. all at the same time. (smile) And when I looked up, it was better …… but it was because of the lights that God strategically placed in the midst of my fog.

Psalm 23:4 reminds me that we are not alone in the fog. – “Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.” It tells me that all of us at some point will have to go through foggy moments, that’s a normal situation. But we go through (However long it takes…..) the valley , we’re not meant to stay there and make it a permanent habitation. So I am grateful for the lights of love that comfort and console me in the midst of the fog.

This is what gives me the strength and drive to always offer light when my sisters are in the midst of their fog. We may not see everything, but sometimes God gives us just enough of what we need. We just move from light to light.

Be the light in the midst of someone’s fog.

From light to light

Sheila P.

Take the Leap and Let Go

This was an amazing experience and doing this Talk it is definitely an item that I am able to check off my bucket list. 🙌🏾 And I’m grateful that I’m a part of an amazing Walk The Talk Tribe!!! Special shout out to those of you who were able to come and support. Here is the video, I hope it is a blessing to you. Letting Go - I was and still am preaching this to myself.

#LettingGo
#WalkTheTalk
#SheilaSpeaks
#SheilaWrites

Holiness In The Hidden

We live in an instant world. Instant messages keep us connected. Photos are taken, posted, shared and printed instantly.  Request your Uber or Lyft ride and instantly your driver is three minutes away.  And don’t get me started on Amazon Prime! If I want it tomorrow, I can order within six hours and simply hit the one click and it’s done … instantly.

I believe a part of us is conditioned and enjoy the benefits of receiving something instantly.

I think of my first instant camera and there was nothing instant about it.

It was this big and bulky, and the photo would come out with hidden images. It took time to develop.  We’d fight to hold the photo and gradually see the images come into focus. I realized what I liked the most about the process was waiting.  

There’s holiness in the hidden … in the moments that don’t happen in an instant.  

I am still reflecting, nearly two months later, on Holy Saturday. The day that came between Friday’s crucifixion and Saturday’s resurrection. It was the day that Jesus was in the tomb, blocked by the stone. It felt as if nothing was happening, yet everything was happening at the same time. There is power in the hidden.

We can encounter Holy Saturday moments throughout our lives. It is in those mean time, in between time, experiences and no one is watching. The moments between crucifixion and resurrection of a dream or hope. The moments where it appears an area of your life is blocked by a stone. There’s power in the hidden.

Jesus had ministered for three years, we’ve read about his journey, studied his sermons and parables. We know about his teachings and miracles. Yet most of his life was hidden.  

We hear of his birth and then he’s hidden for several days.

Jesus is circumcised and hidden for a couple of years

When he is two, he is in the court and hidden for 10 years.

We see him again in the temple at 12 years old — confounding the teachers and again his life is hidden for nearly two decades.

Yet it is in these hidden years, that he grew, developed and was prepared for his ministry.

There’s power in the hidden. Just because something is anonymous or hidden, doesn’t mean that it is insignificant. When we look at the powerful ministry of Christ, we understand the impact of those hidden years. There’s power in our hidden seasons.

My photographer friend taught me about darkrooms. The room can be made completely dark to allow the processing and developing of the light-sensitive photographic materials.  

Spiritual darkrooms develop us. God is the photographer that captures the images of our lives and is with us in the spiritual darkroom. 

There is holiness in the hidden.

When the photos came out of the instant camera, we shook the photo, so it would develop faster. That actually harmed the photo. Likewise we can’t rush, edit or delete the hidden years.  But there is power in the hidden.

There is power in those anonymous and uncelebrated seasons of hiddenness. Our faith develops, our prayer life grows, we learn the important ministries of listening and presence.  You treasure those people who encourage and supported you during those moments. 

There’s holiness in the hidden and power in what we and others can’t yet see.

Blessed to be a blessing to you,

Sheila P Spencer