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"Rejection: to refuse to
accept or recognize"
Oh how negative the word
rejection is. How many times in our lives do we go through that
displeasing process. I have personally experienced rejection during my
childhood, my teenage years, and now from my own family. Why? Because I
choose to live a life pleasing to God instead of walking in the ways of
my family.
After eight years of marriage
to my husband, I still get the cold rejection from my mother. When I
call the family, Who’s this? My mother asks. Your daughter Anna! Oh, my
long lost daughter. The one who never comes to see me or the one who
sees her father more than her mother. Have you ever heard those words
before?
I have experienced those
words from my mother since I had married my husband. I believe that my
mother thinks that he has stolen me away, instead he led me towards a
better path. Other family members say that my mother speaks of me as a
stranger, and that I have deserted the family. I often hear my mother
speak "you care only for your father, you’re just like him". I can feel
that my mother has so much resentment towards my father and I, because
we chose to live a life acknowledging right from wrong, attempting to
live a better life.
I called my mother the other
night and she said you’re not like your brothers and sisters. I said
you’re right, I choose to live my life for God not for myself. My mother
does not know her daughter any longer. Jesus is my life now, and my
mother does not know how to accept it.
Five years ago God had called
my husband and I to work in Kuwait. God has blessed us so much and led
us to begin a home bible study and a personal ministry to teach the Word
to Third Country Nationals. A life that my family members have a hard
time accepting. But, as I studied the Word of God, I found that Jesus’
family had a similar experience with accepting Jesus’ new life. A new
life to them, which was bringing persecution on the family.
I acknowledged that I was not
the only person who had experienced rejection from family and friends.
My Lord, had experienced the same rejection. Everyday other Christians
experience the same rejection in different countries, towns, and
families. Even, the Word of God speaks about how many will be persecuted
for His Name.
How did I cope with this
rejection? I read what the Word of God says about me. I am now a family
member of a more glorious family. A child of the Living God. Oh, how
wonderful it is to have a family who loves you and accepts you the way
you are.
If you are experiencing a
similar situation, don’t give in to despair. Rejoice that the Lord has
given us a greater family. I pray that you and my family will experience
the love and joy that I received in Christ Jesus. My rejection was
turned into adoption, my sorrow into everlasting joy.
(Scripture references: John
15:19-21; Eph 1:4-8; Matt 5:44-45; John 12:36; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 3:26-29) |
