The One Who Defines Us by Claudia Loopstra

I looked at the long line up of people. The room held the fragrance of an assortment of freshly cut flowers. Most of them were arranged in vases; not in the usual way with floral baskets reminiscent of an impending funeral.

As a familiar looking man dressed in a business suit approached, he extended his hand to me and offered his condolences. We then began a conversation about my brother-in-law, who had passed away at the age of sixty-six from multiple myeloma. Diagnosed a mere six weeks before he died, our family was left reeling from his sudden death.

"Larry was dedicated to his profession and to his patients," I said, as I began to relate the story of how Larry  had informed his staff that he had to close his medical practice immediately. "His wife told me he'd cried."

It took me off guard when the man said, "Well...it was his profession that defined him."

You know nothing about Larry, I thought. He was not defined by his profession or by his financial status, academic standing, his parenting or his marriage. I knew the man meant well, but I also knew he was wrong.

The person soon moved on down the line, but I remained troubled by his comment. I was aware that Larry's profession had meant a great deal to him--that he was well-respected in his field. But that was not what defined him.

At one point during the evening visitation, a young doctor approached me. It seemed she had mistaken me for Larry's widow. As she took my hand in hers she said, "Larry's influence made me a better person". Tears trickled down her cheeks. At that moment, I didn't have the heart to tell her that I wasn't Dr. Loopstra's wife.

The message at Larry's funeral, the following day, was taken from Galations 5:22, 23. God's word, in part, defined who Larry was as he had lived by the Spirit. His life reflected love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ...not perfectly as it is known by believers that our sinful nature prevents it. But, when we are in Christ, through his blood we are cleansed; therefore we, as believers, are not defined as the world would define us. It's by God's grace we are who we are.

Our worth is never found in what we do but rather in who we belong to. No matter what our failures or successes may be, we can rest in that knowledge.

See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1John 3:1


Claudia Loopstra is a speaker, writer and author. As well as having several short stories and articles published she, along with four others, co-authored and published As the Ink Flows: Devotions to Inspire Christian Writers and Speakers. Her memoir Redemptive Love: Living with an Alcoholic Father was published in 2015.
www.claudialoopstra.com

When We Call Upon God by Claudia Loopstra

            Have you ever experienced an answer to prayer whereby God gives you an additional measure of His grace? Nothing can fill your heart more with pure Christian joy when this happens.

            My friend, Carol Ford, and I had booked to go to a dinner theatre in Fort Meyers on the Saturday before she headed back to Canada from her visit with me in Florida.  By the time I made the reservation, there were only two seats left. I was told we would be sharing a table with six others. Mmm. I booked it.

            It had been an inspiring and exhilarating ten days as we read the bible, did devotions and spent time on our respective writing projects.  

Saturday morning, we did our devotions and prayed.  At the end of my prayer, I made this request, “Lord, please, when we sit with strangers tonight, may they be kind people.”

            That evening we arrived at the theatre and were seated with four others. Two people hadn’t yet arrived. We sat down across from one another at the far end of the table and left two seats vacant on either side of us. An envelope had been placed near us with the names Joanne and Mike written on what looked to be envelope that contained a card.

A short time later, two elderly people were escorted to our table by the server. The older woman looked anxious. The older man was holding her hand as she directed him to the table. After we introduced ourselves, the woman spoke.

 “My husband is blind. I will need to sit beside him so I can cut up his food.” Carol immediately rose up from her seat, came over and sat beside me.

            “Thank you…thank you. My name is Joanne and this is my husband, Mike. We’re celebrating our 63^rd wedding anniversary.”  Carol handed her the envelope and Joanne smiled as she leaned over to read the card to her husband.

            Over the course of the next thirty minutes, we chatted. Mike told us that he had a rare disease that had rendered him blind as an adult. Married to Joanne at the time, she became his caregiver. Throughout our conversation, I marvelled at the positive attitude that both Mike and his wife exhibited.

 I wondered whether or not if I would have maintained the same positive outlook on life that Mike exhibited if I had I become blind.  Two months prior, I’d had a mini-stroke and was left with double vision in one eye. My condition lasted seven weeks. At the time, I felt much gratitude for the prayers that were prayed on my behalf.  I felt the prayers had taken the worry away and an acceptance of God’s will filled me with peace.

            After they finished dinner, I walked with Joanne to the dessert table. It was then I asked her what gave her strength as she took care of Mike.

            “I say my prayers everyday…that’s what keeps me going.”

            As we said our “good-byes” to Mike and Joanne after the performance, Joanne thanked us for being such kind people. Mike nodded in agreement. It was a humbling moment.

             The following day, I reflected on the highlight of the evening. Although, the musical had been enjoyable, the highlight had been meeting Joanne and Mike.

Later on, I recalled the prayer I had said the previous morning regarding kind people. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to God for reminding me what I needed to remember.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness …Gal. 5:22

 Claudia Loopstra is a wife, mother of two and grandmother of eight.
She is the author of  Redemptive Love: Living With an Alcoholic Father and co-author of As the Ink Flows: Devotions to Inspire Christian Writers and  Speakers.