faith

Growing Pains

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Throughout my life I have been happy in my work as long as I am experiencing growth – learning and broadening my knowledge, developing skills. I realized a long time ago that this requires me to get out of my comfort zone. You can’t reach for more without stretching … right? 

Don’t believe me? Try it …

In general, growth of any kind is not experienced without some pain or discomfort – physically, professionally, emotionally, spiritually. 

Consider this example: Soon after my son started high school, I noticed he frequently complained about his legs aching. At the time, little did we know that those nagging aches and pains were ushering him into adulthood. It wasn’t until later that I realized he grew 9 inches from his freshman to his sophomore year in high school. That was unbelievable and incredible to me. I had to start looking up to my sweet son who now towers over me. After he endured the physical strain resulting in his adult height, he began to take great joy in peering down and leaning on me to emphasize his stature. I am a bit vertically challenged and this further emphasized it.

I can cite numerous examples where this has been true for me professionally as well. Keeping late nights and long hours, working to complete a task or project, returning to school for advanced degrees. The list could go on and on. I am certain you have your own experiences to highlight. 

So, it really is true. No pain, no gain.

What about our spiritual growth? Yes, the same concept applies to this too. Even when we stop growing on the outside, we can and should continue growing on the inside.

If you are thinking spirituality is comforting, pleasant, and hopeful. You are correct.

If you extend that into thinking spirituality is not painful, uncomfortable, or difficult, I say you are incorrect.

Spirituality is all of the above. Remember: no pain, no gain. 

I said at the beginning I find I am happiest in my work when I am growing. Examining my life, I can see that this is true personally, spiritually too. When I consider times of unhappiness or discontent in my faith walk, those periods clearly coincide with phases of being spiritually stagnant. 

Consider this: If you are unhappy in your faith or questioning your blessings and beliefs (or the lack of), maybe you need to get out of your spiritual comfort zone. 

Set aside time to read the Bible or join a Bible study group. Listen to Christian music or a faith-based podcast. Try a new Sunday school class or a different worship service.

Become uncomfortable by altering your schedule to make time for Jesus and by making it a habit to focus on your own spiritual growth. 

It may hurt at first – getting out of bed earlier for faith-focused thought and reflection, giving up a free weeknight to fellowship with other Christians, taking time to read a devotional series or the Bible instead of the most recent bestseller, kneeling in purposeful prayer on a regular basis. Through these growing pains you are sure to add to the qualities mentioned in the scripture: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.

Imagine the new heights you will reach in your relationship with God and your increasing measure in being a productive, effective, happy follower of Christ. 

Let the Sun Shine In

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.                     

2 Thessalonians 3:3

With thoughts of floating in the pool and putting our toes in the sand, people everywhere are pulling out the pool floats and swimwear, putting on flip flops and sunglasses, and purchasing sunshades and sunscreen for the summer months ahead. 

Spring is in full swing and we just can’t help basking in the warmth of the sun. 

Bring on the Summertime!

Amidst the excitement of returning to the outdoors to enjoy more fun in the sun, I was given a reality check by a dermatologist. As it turns out, the same sun that warms the soul and provides the body with much needed vitamin D can also cause great damage – not just during the summer months but all year long, rain or shine. 

Now, much older and somewhat wiser, I am adhering to the advice of professionals and applying sunscreen every day to protect my skin- even when its cloudy. 

Spiritually, we need protection everyday too. As revealed in 2 Thessalonians, God is our protection from the evils in the world – the troubles we see and those we can’t see. Just like that sunscreen offers protection to minimize damage caused by those harmful UV rays, God sent Jesus as our sonscreen for life to minimize and manage our troubles. The directions for daily use are easy: Read the Bible. Pray. Repeat.

So, as you head out to spend these spring and summer days in the sun and you reach for the suntan lotion, remember to reach for the ultimate protection for everything life throws your way. 

Dear Lord,

You are my refuge and my shield;  I have put my hope in your word (Psalm 119:114). Thank you for providing me with the protection I need each and every day.

Pa-Paw’s Orchard

/ Kimberly Fraker / 1 Comment

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.                                                                                 Galatians 5:22-23

Standing over my father’s shoulder, staring down the long, pasture-lined highway, the excitement was building. I couldn’t wait to get there. To that special place with so much to explore. The fresh air, rolling hills, and steak for breakfast – Nan-Naw and Pa-Paw’s house!

My grandparents lived in a different state, so my family visited primarily during summer vacation and Thanksgiving break. I loved it there. Surrounded by my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and all that space. So much for us to do yet nothing but the land and our imaginations. 

My grandparents owned a beautiful piece of property with a few outbuildings and a small home where they raised their five children. I always wondered where they put all those kids in that meager home. On part of the property, my grandfather had several apple trees. I remember the time and care my grandfather took tending to his small orchard. Making sure the trees were free of pests and disease and gently caring for the fruit they produced. He would even stretch white fabric underneath the trees, elevated off the ground to catch the apples as they fell to prevent damage to the fruit. 

Oh, how I loved it when he would pick a fresh apple, cut it with his pocketknife, and offer me a slice. What I didn’t fully comprehend or appreciate as a young girl was the fact that more than one type of apple was produced from a single tree in my grandfather’s orchard. But how could that be? How is that possible?

My grandfather would graft a branch from one tree onto another of a different type. As a result, an individual tree would yield different types of apples. How neat is that?! 

In the same manner, the fruit of the spirit is not limited to one type. When reading Galatians 5:22-23, I began to wonder, “How can this be? … How can such a variety of fruit come from one source? Then, I remembered my Pa- Paw’s orchard and the answer seemed clear and simple. 

When we allow the Holy Spirit to become part of us, we yield a variety of fruit. We continue to produce fruit as before, but it is enhanced and increased. The fruit called love being of primary importance. I Corinthians 13:13 states, “But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

From love through faithfulness, we will find joy, peace, and patience. As a result, we produce kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control.

By allowing God to work in our lives, grafting the Holy Spirit to us, we are able to bear all of the fruits of the spirit.

As tasty and satisfying as the apples were from my grandfather’s orchard, so is the fruit of my life and yours when enhanced by the Holy Spirit.

Stations of the Cross

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.   Mark 15:15

During Holy Week, Christians around the world pause to reflect on the sacrifice and to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Individual churches have their own traditions and unique ways to mark the end of the Lenten season and transition from the darkness encapsulating Christ on Good Friday into the light and hope of His resurrection Sunday. 

This year our church is offering something new to me – The Stations of the Cross*. We are invited to visit the church this week to meditate and pray as we move through each of the stations. This devotional journey depicts the final days of Jesus on earth, from His betrayal and condemnation to His crucifixion and burial. 

Reflecting on each stop along the way from the Garden of Gethsemane to Golgotha to the tomb, I am reminded of Christ’s real-life journey. Sometimes we are inclined to consider His life and sum it up as a miraculous birth in a manger, a sacrifice of love on the cross, and the promise of eternal life through his resurrection. How often do we stop to ponder the other moments that are part of the whole story? Not often enough – or at least I haven’t.

This week is a reminder of the human suffering Christ endured. He was betrayed by those closest to Him. He was wrongly accused. He was publicly humiliated. He was physically battered and beaten. He was ridiculed. He was stripped bare for all to see. 

Jesus was the only perfect man, our Redeemer; however, he was also a man of great sorrow. If we skip from Palm Sunday to Easter morning without considering the anguish of the in between, we’ve missed so much. 

No one can clearly understand the power of the resurrection without learning what He went through to get there. He experienced the unimaginable to take on the sins of mankind. He became truly human, relatable. We know no pain greater than that experienced by our Savior. 

Similarly, we may not or cannot clearly understand the dark times in our own lives or the challenges along the way until we, too, are resurrected to live life eternal with our Lord and Savior. 

Parents can feel like their children will never understand their sacrifices. Not so with God, our Father. The sacrifice made for you and for me is visible, in detail. Don’t miss the message of Holy Week. Stop. Reflect. Meditate. Pray. Make His pain your pain. Only then, can we reap the genuine joy coming with the dawn of Easter morn. A true celebration of a life of love, sacrifice, and resurrection. The whole story. The complete picture.

Also be reminded that we all have a full story. Our lives aren’t defined by just a couple of moments of great pain or instance of great joy. We must put it all together to get the full picture. His story continues and so does ours. Take comfort in knowing whatever you are experiencing, He has too. He walked the road before us and will walk alongside each of us.

There is no good without grief, no pleasure without pain, no darkness without light, no life without death. 

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.    Matthew 27:57-60

It is always darkest just before the dawn …

*Learn more about the Stations of the Cross (also, Scriptures of the Cross) online – how they evolved and the variations. “Tradition holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, set up stone markers at her home outside Jerusalem to prayerfully retrace the steps of her son’s Passion, but the origin of the devotion in its present form is not clear.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stations-of-the-Cross

Begin … Again

/ Kimberly Fraker / 1 Comment

But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.   Job 8:5-7

After my last post (December 2024), I decided to take a month-long hiatus from my regular writing.

Now, one year – not one month – later, I find myself here. Ready to begin … again.

2025 was complicated and challenging in a variety of ways. Navigating a new phase of life and changing family dynamics put me a bit off balance and I struggled to find a new rhythm. 

As an educator, I appreciated and anticipated the ending of one school year and the beginning of the next, viewing it as a chance to wipe the slate (or desk) clean and start new and fresh. Erasing the things that did not work or I did not like and carrying forward only those things that were successful and positive. 

I imagine this is how many or most people view the new calendar year, making resolutions and promises of improvement or vowing to leave behind the bad habits and destructive patterns of the previous year to enter January with a clean slate. 

But do we, really?

We don’t or can’t truly leave it all behind. 

Real life doesn’t stop and start like that. Real life is To Be Continued … much like your favorite binge watch. When whatever show your streaming ends a season, the next season picks up where it left off. Sure, some story lines end all neat and tidy but there is always something from the past that surfaces driving the storyline in the new season.

So here we are entering 2026, right where we left off in December. 

What was “so last year” is very much still right here with us. Those missteps and mistakes and those questionable choices and bad breaks didn’t disappear or miraculously vanish. 

It is all still here lying heavy on the heart. 

This new year is not the blank slate it is hailed to be. It is, however, an awakening. A calling to begin … again. January is a fresh start, an inhalation of hope and a renewal of self and spirit.

Whether your entrance into this New Year was accompanied with great fanfare and excitement or entered into as a whisper in the wind, there is encouragement ahead. No matter your circumstances coming into 2026, God is here for you and with you. HE is ushering us into this time and space as we begin … again – continuing our walk with Him.

When Job was at his lowest and humbled in ways we cannot fathom, he was reminded of God’s mercy and faithfulness. God longs to restore each of us in the same way – as often as needed. 

This year let’s seek God earnestly and prosper through what He has in store for us.

To Be Continued …

Born in a Barn

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 

Luke 2:10-12

Have you ever heard someone say, “Were you born in a barn?” It’s usually a playful (but sometimes frustrated) remark made when someone leaves a door open or neglects to close something correctly. The saying points to the idea of a person not having manners or not paying attention to the little details that matter with the implication that barns are cold, drafty, and not the most ideal place for a person to be born among the dirt and animals. 

During this season of Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus was, in fact, born in a barn – a stable – a humble, ordinary place, far from where we would imagine the birthplace for the King of kings. In this most humble of settings, the Savior of the world was placed in a feeding trough … a manger … when He made His entrance into humanity. This unexpected setting is rich with meaning for us today.

As we take a few moments to reflect on the significance of this most modest of beginnings, the significance is profound. 

Jesus’ birth in the stable with a manger as a cradle was no accident. It wasn’t about being “born in a barn” for simplicity or poverty. It was more deliberate than that. God allowed His Son to enter this world in a way that made it clear that the Kingdom of God doesn’t operate like the kingdoms of this world. His kingdom is not about wealth, power, or privilege. His kingdom is about humility, service, and love.

Through the lowly circumstances of His birth, Jesus demonstrated that He could relate to ordinary people. That he could understand their brokenness, challenges, and struggles. He didn’t wait for the perfect circumstances. His birth was a miracle in the midst of a mess. Our mess, our imperfections, and our need. And that is the heart of the message – Jesus entered the world as one of us, sharing in our humanity and not as a distant, untouchable king.

Isn’t this what we need? A Savior who is near, who is accessible, and who understands the struggles of ordinary, everyday life. A Prince of Peace whose love and grace covers us all. 

Sometimes you may feel like you’re not good enough or that your circumstances are too messy for God to make a difference. But the birth of Jesus reminds us that God can take the most ordinary places, the humblest beginnings, and turn them into something extraordinary. No matter how scarred or imperfect our lives appear, God can and will come into our hearts and work through each of us.

The message of Christmas — the message of Jesus being born in a barn — is that God is near. Because He is near, we can come to Him with our worries, our doubts, our sorrows, and our insecurities as well as, our joys and our triumphs. No matter where we are and no matter who we are, Jesus is accessible to us all.

When you’re feeling insignificant or facing difficulties, remember the light of God shines brightest during our darkest times. If God could step into a barn in Bethlehem long ago and change the world, imagine what He can do in the “barns” of our own lives today.

Merry Christmas to all!

Grand Plans

/ Kimberly Fraker / 1 Comment

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb …Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”   Psalm 139: 13, 16

There is nothing like the joy, hope, and dreams brought about upon the birth of a child. I remember when my own children were born and the way I looked at them in awe of their newborn perfection. It didn’t take long for me to begin formulating grand plans about what they each would do, be, and become in their lifetime. I imagined them having the same wonderful experiences I had with friends and in school and in church. I wanted them to grow up exactly like me! 

There was only one problem. Nothing stays the same. The world changed. Society changed. 

The world my children came to know and be a part of was very different from the world I knew as a child and young adult. The technology alone had an enormous influence on that. I was saddened that my children wouldn’t be reliving the happy, seemingly simple pleasures I knew as a child but excited about the possibilities I saw unfolding for them. Possibilities I could not have fathomed from my background and personal frame of reference. 

Even in the excitement of all the positive things I witnessed as my own children changed and grew, I couldn’t let go of all the grand plans I had for their lives. In my normal motherly way, I pushed them. Pushed them to make the choices I thought were best. Pushed them to do the things I wanted them to do. Pushed them away from influences I found detrimental to their goals … their goals which were really my goals. 

With all the wants I had for their lives came the worries as well. What if they don’t do … be … or become? I pride myself on expecting the unexpected – but what if something unexpected happened? 

Guess what? It did. 

My two beautiful, wonderful children grew up and did a lot of unexpected things. Many truly awesome and some that tried my soul. 

Have you read The Power of a Praying Parent or The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian? A friend gave me one of those books and the other I picked up for myself. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that sooner – Praying, I mean. 

Of course, I prayed all along the way but not the intentional, focused prayers of the parent I wanted to be. So, I became one eventually and intentionally … a praying parent who realized only God is in control and that only He knows the real grand plan for each of us – even my children. I realized these two humans I raised to be independent really were. Making their own choices. Living their own lives. 

Guess what? It is all turning out just as God planned. In God’s perfect timing.

Last week, we became grandparents for the first time. Grandparents of not one but two beautiful babies … twins, a boy and a girl. In their first few days of life, I once again found myself gazing at them in awe of their newborn perfection with grand plans entering my mind. This time, of course, everything is even more GRAND – the grand plans of a grandparent. 

Guess what? Things are different this time. 

I am much more at peace with the grand plan for each of their lives because of Psalm 139: 13, 16. I know the wants and worries are not gone for good, but I have them in perspective now. God knows these babies. He saw their unformed bodies before they were introduced to us, and He knows every day that they have yet to live. 

Guess what? I find that comforting and powerful. 

In this same way, God knew me and you when we were in our mothers’ wombs. All our days are written in His book. He saw this day coming way before I did. I am thankful He has gone before me and is beside me – every day.

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and beyond. Each person is a blessing and each day a gift to be enjoyed. 

Keep making those grand plans (I know I will) but know who has the master plan. Embrace the comfort and power of His plan.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Doubt Full, Fear Less

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  Psalm 56:3

Have you ever kept a journal? 

I have journaled off and on for years. When I was a young girl, journaling wasn’t a thing, so to speak. Diaries were. You know that small hard back book filled with empty pages with a lock on it to keep thoughts and secrets safe. Even though that lock could be easily picked, and all of those diaries could be accessed using the same key (or so it seemed), as a child I found having a diary to be exciting – something of my own that no one else was allowed to have or read. 

Today, you can find a wide array of journals (the modern diary sans the locking mechanism) – pages lined or unlined, colorful or plain, with a ribbon marker or without, some with inspirational quotes or scriptures. I can spend hours looking for just the right one for just the right collection of thoughts. That’s right, I keep multiple journals. I have a travel journal, a home project journal, and a journal for writing ideas. Name a topic and it’s worth journaling about; however, the most cherished journals from my past are the ones containing ordinary daily thoughts, recollections, and reflections. 

Recently, while rearranging and repurposing some décor to make our house fall fabulous, I found some old journals of mine. Two, in particular, are very special – they are the journals I kept while I was pregnant with each of our children.

God has great timing. My daughter is expecting twins within the next month (our first grandchildren) and she has been asking me a lot of questions. As time passes and I believe we often forget that which is unpleasant, some of my answers to her questions about the upcoming blessed event and motherhood have been vague clouded by time. Upon reading the journal I kept for her, so many memories came flooding back. This journal is just what she needs to fill in the gaps and increase her understanding as she embarks on this great adventure called parenthood. 

As I turned each page where I chronicled the past for my son and daughter to absorb in the future, I realized these books aren’t just a play-by-play account of events. They encompass so much more. Within the pages, as you might expect, are my hopes and dreams for myself and each of my children. What they also include that I didn’t expect to find are my insecurities, doubts, and fears. Not just about their birth and motherhood but about myself, my abilities and even my appearance. The words are real and raw. Doubt Full. And a bit fear full as well. 

I couldn’t wait to gift each child with their book so they would know how their stories began, more about who I am (for better or worse) , and how loved they are.

Reading and reflecting, I realize how Doubt Full life is. I am sure this isn’t just me, right? 

No matter how confident and strong I consider myself to be and want others to believe me to be, underneath that layer of confidence and strength there are doubts and fears. 

I doubt a decision. I am afraid I made the wrong decision.

I doubt my ability. I am afraid I will fail. 

I doubt I am enough. I am afraid I am not enough.

Doubts and fears are normal. Some of us are great at hiding them, but we all have them. We just need to keep them in perspective. 

The other thing I noticed throughout my journals is a focus on prayer and thanksgiving. I mention at various times what I have prayed for and give thanks for the things God has given me in my life. In the good times and trying times, I never lost my focus on the Father. I don’t know why this surprised me. I guess because sometimes I get entrenched in the doubt and fear of life and take the love and care of God for granted. My writings made me realize that even during the times I know I strayed from my faith walk, God was there, and I knew it deep inside.

Throughout scripture, there are reminders to have faith, to give our fears and doubts to God. As the saying goes, let your faith be bigger than your fear. It doesn’t mean you won’t fear or doubt or worry. It does mean as you live your life Doubt Full you can Fear Less with God by your side. 

Keep this in mind as you move into this new day. A new day where you acknowledge your doubts, your fears. A new day where you are reminded to share it with God and turn the outcome over to Him. 

Today and every day, you can be Doubt Full and Fear Less. 

(You might even consider starting a journal – it might help someone else in the future, just when they need it most!)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.  Psalm 34:4


Show and Tell

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.                              Micah 6:8

When I was in kindergarten and first grade, an opportunity was given to students on a rotating basis to bring in an item from home to show the class and tell about it. I have fond memories of Show and Tell time. Sometimes the teacher would pick a theme like a favorite book or a topic that complimented a lesson and occasionally it was left open for whatever each child felt was important or interesting to bring and share. 

I remember my teacher explaining how Show and Tell would work by modeling it for us. She brought in her favorite book and walked us through the process of what we should do when it was our turn to share. 

I loved Show and Tell. I liked seeing things brought in by my friends and learning more about each classmate. But mostly, I enjoyed it when it was my turn to participate. I can remember carefully selecting just the right item and how excited I was to explain it to the others in my class. Once it was a puppet and another time a picture and later a book.

I have always been a rule follower and somewhat of a teacher pleaser, so when my turn came, I was careful to follow the example set by my teacher; consequently, it frustrated me when others did not. I wasn’t sure why that one child brought in a stuffed animal when the teacher clearly instructed us to bring in a picture of a favorite toy or why that one boy kept asking if he could bring in his lizard when the teacher said, “No live animals.” Come on, people – get with the program!

Micah 6:8 reminds me of Show and Tell time. Jesus came to Earth and showed us what is good and pleasing and the Bible tells us clearly what is required of us. Simply stated in this verse, we are told to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. Each of these things were modeled by Jesus and are reflected in scripture. Now, it is our turn to put that into practice. To Show and Tell others so they will know too. 

Why, then, does this seem so hard? 

To act justly, I should treat all people with dignity and respect. I need to do what I say I will do, say what I mean, and mean what I say. To act justly requires action. When injustices are seen, we should seek to correct those. It sounds simple enough, but it gets complicated when our personal feelings cloud our judgement. It can be hard to empathize with others who are not like us. Instead of sitting on the sidelines and remaining silent, we are called to exercise empathy and take action. 

So, how about loving mercy? This is often compared to kindness and extending kindness to others. Let’s be clear about this and what it means. It means extending kindness to ALL others, not just the ones who can do something for us or the ones who are like us or the ones who are kind to us. It means extending kindness to the people who upset you, to the people you don’t understand, and to those who you know nothing about and who can do nothing for you. Loving mercy means extending forgiveness too – ouch! That can be a difficult one.

Act justly … love mercy … 

Now, all you need to do is walk humbly with your God. We each must accept that we are dependent on God. We should not be arrogant and put ourselves above others. We must acknowledge that all that we have is from God. Without Him, we are nothing. This can be hard to swallow – a piece of humble pie so to speak. We grow up learning to be independent – to be out on our own. Just like when my young child pushed me away and said he could do things all by himself. We do that to God. We think we don’t need Him. We push Him away. We want to do things all on our own. As adults we must revisit this concept of independence where God is concerned. Walk humbly. Be subordinate to His will in our lives.

Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. 

Show and Tell.

Now it’s your turn. Think of the example set by Jesus and the teachings in your Bible. Use these as a guide. 

Come on, people – get with the program! Show and Tell.

Roles and Responsibilities

/ Kimberly Fraker / Leave a comment

(Sorry for the lag since my last post. September in Georgia was challenging and devastating for many. In one month, there was a tragic school shooting, Hurricane Helene, and then a massive chemical fire. Consequently, I took a few weeks to step back and remain silent as I felt my fervent prayers were more beneficial than any post or posts I could author. I find at times there is great power in silence – more on that in a future post. As I continue to pray for those in our state and those in neighboring states still reeling and beginning slowly to recover from the events of September, I am getting back to the blog and offering reminders to all that God is in control and working for our good.)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.             Isaiah 9:6

I learned very early, at the age of 15, that when you accept a job it comes with an established set of responsibilities associated with the role of the position. The employer has specific expectations for the performance of your duties. From my first job at the local community pool to various positions at a popular amusement park to opportunities in the field of advertising and public relations to my career in education, the responsibilities grew along the way in proportion to the position and my experience. 

We each have work-related expectations and duties, but we also have less official roles and responsibilities that we fulfill in our lives. I am wife, mom (and a dog and cat mom too), daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, in-law, friend, volunteer, and soon-to-be grandmama. With each of these informal titles there are obligations and expectations too. Add all your personal accountabilities together with those that go along with your paying job and the total most likely exceeds your capacity for performance. 

For example, you may be exceeding those expectations at the office but as a result you won’t be winning spouse of the year. Or you may be the exemplar for the model parent but to maintain that you miss a deadline or two on the job. It is definitely a balancing act. I often tell people if things are good at home and stressful at work (or vice versa), I’m good. It’s when both are rocky that I’m in real trouble. 

Being all things to all people in all roles is an impossible expectation; however, many of us place that on ourselves. Superman got nothing on me* – right? Wrong. None of us are superhuman and we can never consistently be everything for everyone in our lives. But there is someone who can. 

Upon birth, Jesus was given some very weighty roles and responsibilities: Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. He is our Mighty God. This is what we need to remember when we feel the pressure of those accumulated expectations of all the roles we play in our lives. To balance our roles and responsibilities we can lean on the one who can do it all. The one who can be all things to all people. Everything to Everyone. 

Are over extended?  Are some things slipping on your list of responsibilities? If so, slide those things right over to the Everlasting Father. He will help you strike the perfect balance.

The weight of the world is on His shoulders. It doesn’t have to be on yours.

*Charlie Puth lyric from “One Call Away”