James 1:1-4
From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world.
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new program on TLC called “Big Tiny.” It features a brother and sister in Illinois who are in their early twenties. Bri and Brad Jordan are primordial dwarves. Both are featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest siblings, and Bri is the world’s tiniest living woman. At 23 years of age, Bri stands 28 inches tall. Brad, age 20, has 38 inches of height. The two siblings live with their mom in Sandoval, Illinois.
Bri and Brad want so badly to be “normal” young adults. They attend college… Brad actually attends on a cheerleading scholarship. As you might imagine, he is used to top “pyramids” and the other members of the squad toss him into the air in some of their stunts. Brad is a talented gymnast and can do flips across the basketball court with the best of them. Bri is a “girlie girl” all the way and loves to spend time between classes sharing a snack with a table of girlfriends… all of whom are of “normal” size and stature.
Bri and Brad would really love to live on their own like other young adults their age. They have gotten licenses to drive a car (with special adaptations for little people like them), and they are learning to do chores around the house that would be necessary for independent living… laundry, housekeeping, and cooking. I watched an episode that featured them pushing the vacuum across the floor. At just over 2 feet tall, Bri was admittedly terrified of the vacuum, and she could barely push it. She complained afterward that her arms and hands were hurting, and she explained that someone of her small stature has limited upper body strength. The logistics of maneuvering something tall and heavy (like a vacuum or a pile of clean laundry) are quite different than for someone of standard height.
When I watched the siblings climb a step stool and stand on kitchen counters to put soup and mac ‘n cheese in the microwave for lunch, I held my breath! If our little nephew Timothy (who is 38+” tall at age 3) tried to do this, we would have a fit! Yet this is how Bri and Brad will have to manage, if they hope to live independently. And I know their mom will pray every day that God keeps them safe…if/when this happens.
From all indications, Bri and Brad Jordan are incredibly happy, positive, hopeful individuals. They have enormous challenges… health issues that would stymie a senior citizen… and more obstacles than I would ever want to consider. But they both exude joy. They endure everything. And so does their mother. She made the comment on one program that “’Can’t’ doesn’t live in our house!”
My point is that everybody has problems. You cannot always tell for certain what is happening in another person’s life just by looking at him/her. The person who is bright, cheerful and positive may have ten times the issues and challenges of someone who appears sad and grumpy. The most beautiful, tall fashion model or athlete may have ten times the problems of someone with primordial dwarfism like Bri and Brad. Not everyone wears their difficulties and worries on their sleeve! Does this mean we should never share our burdens? Should we keep our troubles bottled inside and never let anyone know what is happening in our life? The answer is a resounding, “NO!”
At the same time, we should not be defined by our troubles… but rather, how we handle them. If we are allowing God to have control, nothing is unmanageable. When we trust God to help us through anything and everything, we can endure it all. And in doing so, we are completed. GOD makes the difference! He handles what we cannot… and strengthens us for the journey.
When others look at us, do they see a person with the weight of the world on his/her shoulders? Or do they see someone who is operating in joy and hope? The difference could lie in large part with WHO we trust to handle our daily cares. When your faith is tested, who helps you to endure? Do you operate in Spiritual maturity… or are you living in lack? I encourage you to redouble your efforts to grow closer to God… to give EVERYTHING to Him, and trust that He will manage all of your troubles and enable you to live with hope and peace. Wear the joy of a faith-filled life in Christ on your sleeve… not your troubles!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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