Finding Encouragement, Being Motivated, and Being Stimulated by Sandra Rafuse

 

Finding Encouragement 

"Therefore encourage each other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Thessalonians 5:11

I love this scripture verse. I am so encouraged when I read the kind and uplifting words that people write in the comments. . . they build me up! They reinforce my desire to write, they make me feel "I can do this". I find encouragement in all the blogs I read. The sharing of so many topics, so many feelings, so many experiences is amazing to me. And the humour that comes up. . . what would we do without it?

Being Motivated 

In his July post Alan Anderson wrote, "I think of my parents everyday." Those words had such a startling, powerful impact on me. I immediately sensed the love Alan had for his parents as I read that sentence and I thought to myself, when was the last time I thought of my Dad?  I mean really thought of him; dwelling on a memory or two, recalling what he looked like, hearing his voice in my head. It wasn't that I didn't love my Dad, it was that he had passed away in March of 1963. . .  almost 62 years ago. . .  and thinking of him has pretty much stopped happening. I don't know why but our family did not talk about him much in the years that followed and the memories we once had faded away. Several years ago I asked my three brothers what they remembered about him; it wasn't a lot. 

But Alan's words have motivated me not only to open up this topic with my brothers again but to also  contact the few relatives I have left who would have known him to ask them what they remember.  I'm not expecting much. Any thoughts would be good. And then I want to remind myself to think of him more often, and to start looking forward to seeing him (and Mom) someday in heaven. I want to bring him back into my thoughts; he's been out of them far too long.  (His name was Michael. My mom, Elaine, was buried beside him in July of 2007.)

Being Stimulated

When I finished reading Sandi Somers's blog for this month, "Stronger Together: A Community of Writers", I knew I was going to be reading it over several more times. Her post on the importance of community was a real eye opener for me. One part I found particularly liked was the blog post written by Jordan Raynor, "Without constant communion with other believers to refresh their eternal perspectives, Tolkien may have never completed the Lord of the Rings and Lewis may have never finished The Chronicles of Narnia. Like these creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we work." It was inspiring to read how Sandi started to be involved with community and where it led her.  

 

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband, Bob, a Gordon Setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a retired teacher, an amateur writer, and  is enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences.