The book of Proverbs often compares the practices of the wise with those of fools. As we land on April Fool’s Day, I thought I’d share a few with you:
- Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness (Proverbs 13:16).
- The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice (Proverbs 12:15).
- The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame (Proverbs 3: 35).
I wonder if the famous quote by missionary Jim Elliot was inspired by verses like these when he penned his now-famous quote:
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
Elliot’s comment references the giving away of one’s time in the cause of sharing the treasure of life in Christ.
I don’t have a lot of discretionary time, but it seemed right three years ago to invite a small group of people who would be willing to invest 90 minutes, once a month, to gather to listen and pray for each other because of one thing we all had in common. We all are acquainted with the challenge of living with one or more individuals who battle depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar, or any other mental illness. (You can’t have too crazy of a story to tell because we’ve heard it all, friend!) Our group, Supporting Loved Ones with Mental Illness, just celebrated our three-year anniversary together.
One thing I’ve learned in life is that you must consider yourself blessed if you have even a small circle of friends with whom you battle a common foe. Sometimes sharing the same foxhole with others in your “battalion” can create a bond for a very special kind of friendship. I’ve experienced this lately and dare I say, it is life-changing!
What I love about this group is that we don’t have to have our act together to meet. We just come as we are. We listen, share and pray when times are good and also when we’re in crisis. We share victories and losses. This group is meeting a heartfelt need for us all. But here’s the best news.
There’s room in the foxhole for you.
If you have a friend or loved one that you care for who struggles with any kind of mental illness, come and check out the group to see if this would be a wise investment of your time. After all, “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
If you’d like to know more, just email care@ncbc.church.
Signed,
A Fellow Struggler
------------------------------------
This post is part of a recurring blog series contributed by members of the Supporting Loved Ones with Mental Illness group that meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM at New Covenant Bible Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All are welcome. For more information, please reach out to our Care Ministry Team at 319-395-0021 or care@ncbc.church