At dinner a couple nights ago, my kids each had an orange to peel. Peeling an orange- now there’s a task. My aunt has this really cool gadget that she runs around the orange and it makes perfect little creases to begin the peeling. Since I do not have that gadget, I took a knife and made x’s in a couple spots to start the kids off. One of my kids needed me to actually start the peeling process, two of them pretty much needed me to do it for them, and one was working hard to do it by himself. He got to a point where he was stuck. His dad says, “Use your teeth, like this.” He then goes on to show him how to use his teeth. My eyes grew wide as I thought- Wow, I never even knew that was an option. There are so many ways to get to the end goal when peeling an orange. Sometimes we just need someone to show us a new way.
This honestly had me reflecting about the people who have been perfectly placed in my life at just the right time to help me learn “how to peel the orange,” or “walk with Christ.” For the majority of my life I faked the funk. I had on a really good Christian disguise, but I had no idea what it was all about. I thought church was a place for the holy, and since I wasn’t holy- I put on a holy mask. Overtime, I genuinely thought that everyone else did the same thing. I literally pretended to peel my orange and just hoped no one noticed I was not making any progress.
Out of nowhere, this couple enters my life. Early in our marriage, my husband and I were in a rough spot. They stepped in to give us a Christian model of marriage. We sat in their kitchen one night telling them about a nasty argument we had. They looked at us and laughed, “What do you think we used to do?” My husband and I looked at each other completely shocked. Wait! What? We are not alone in this? Other people have these problems too?
This completely changed my perspective on Christians. It completely changed my perspective on church. Church was NOT a place we go to pretend to be holy. It is the sick who NEED a doctor. Church is for those who know they are weak, who know they are sinners, AND admit they need their SAVIOR!
This couple could have sat and read their Bible, telling us what God wants from us, but they didn’t. They chose to live life with us. They chose to take us to church, invite us over for dinner, discuss the hard things in life. They never pretended to have all the answers. They did, however, know the One who did. They were the first of many mentors who would enter my life. Though we are not as close as we once were, I am forever grateful for the impact they had on my life. They are the ones who taught me “the orange” could be peeled, and here’s one way to start it.
It truly amazes me how God places people in my path to bless and be a blessing to me. We weren’t meant to do life alone. There is so much we can learn from others just by being present. Sometimes all I need is someone to listen, someone to pray along side of me. Sometimes I just need the reminder that I am not alone in this life and this too shall pass. I know there are many ladies in my life who are in the same boat. People who just need someone to understand and help them go to battle in prayer.
We all need people in our life that will help to guide us. After all, we do not have all of the answers to every problem that life presents. Don’t be afraid to stand along side a sister (or brother) in Christ, to teach them what you have learned, or just to let them know that you are willing to go to battle with them in prayer. After all, someone needs shown a new way to peel their orange. You can be the one to show them.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11