The life of a devoted Christian woman (and her family) is filled with tough decisions. There are so many good things in our lives and churches the we can do and be and enjoy. Unfortunately, the more you are committed to, the less you are able to do with excellence. It seems more reasonable to do a few things that you love at a high level of excellence than a bunch of things that you kinda-sorta enjoy and do only mediocrely. One of our family values is excellence, so Kelley and I prioritize and discuss this thing idea of 'giving up on good' often. There are many of these tough decisions that we have made and are making, but one in particular stands out immediately.
We have a great life.
amazing friends
wonderful families
strong, beautiful, messy faith community
our worship ministry
a thriving business
people we would sacrifice most anything to help out
memories and joy and laughter and tears
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| theWell. Our home. |
All of these things are found in our favorite place on the planet. Almost-the-middle-of-nowhere Kansas.
We truly love it here and have all sorts of crazy-good.
Wonderful-good
Beyond-blessed-good.
But in two short years, we will be giving up this good for something better.
We're giving up our lives as we know them for the greatest thing of all.
The Gospel.
We are leaving behind the comfort and security of home and moving our family 'across the pond' to Ireland.
Drogheda to be exact.
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| Our soon-to-be home. |
Ireland is a very small country with amazing people and rich history (and those accents!). It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It also is one of the least evangelized English-speaking countries in the world. Less than 1% of the population have heard the Gospel and fallen in love with Jesus, believing in Him and trusting Him for their salvation.
So we're going.
To see people fall in love.
To see people give over their lives.
To see people changed and healed and made whole.
This is our better-than-good.
It's worth the sacrifice.
It's worth the gut-wrenching pain and sadness and loneliness.
The heart-break of a hundred good-byes.
Knowing our kids will know their families though photos and videos.
The inevitable questioning if we made the right choice
and the momentary belief that didn't.
But giving up on our good and embracing our better-than-good is worth it.
It's worth the sacrifice because of the joyful sacrifice of our Savior. Who gave everything a person can.
His life.
For me, for you, for everyone who believes and calls on His name.
So we are joyful in the sacrifice.
Anticipating the blessing.
Looking forward to salvations and baptisms and other miracles.
Anticipating the Spirit.
To be sure, we are going to passionately enjoy our good while we have it. We are going to pour ourselves out for our community though service and sacrifice. We are going to build bonds and friendships. We are going to soak up our American lives for the next two years, filling it with as much good as possible.
Making memories and stories.
This is surely the best good there is and I will always be beyond thankful for it,
but it's not my better-than-good.
This is how I'm giving up on good.
Originally posted at meganbowker.com in a feature called Giving Up on Good.
