When my husband died suddenly in 2009, leaving two sons ages 4 and 7 behind, I had a choice to make.
How were we going to go on in a healthy way? Did I want the loss to be the focus of my sons' lives for the rest of their lives? Of course not. And their father certainly wouldn’t have wanted it either. To center our lives around this, admittedly, sad event, this loss, would not only be unhealthy and limiting—it would be making an idol of it, maybe even of him.
Those who saw Paul heal a crippled man wanted to call him a god. Idols, though, come in many forms. The temptation is often great to put a person, an event, an interest, a goal at the center of my life—where God should be instead.
Love the beautiful quote, Pam. Thank you for sharing.
Here it is in Exodus 20:3-5, “Do not put any other gods in place of Me!” “Do not make for yourself statues of gods that look like anything in the sky. They may not look like anything on the earth or in the waters either. Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I cause the sins of the parents to affect their children. I will cause the sins of those who hate Me to affect even their grandchildren and great-grandchildren!” *** Idolatry is a very serious matter in Jeremiah 2:19, “You will be punished because you have sinned. You will be corrected for turning away from Me. I am the Lord your God. If you desert Me, bad things (separation from God) will happen to you. If you do not respect Me, you will suffer (separation from God) bitterly. I want you to understand that,” announces the Lord Who rules over all!” *** I was once told to look at my checkbook and see who really is my God! Money or the desire for money can be my God? My children can be my God? My spouse/fiancé/boyfriend/girlfriend can be my God? My wants and desires for everything to go according to my plan can be my God? Any of my home sport teams can be my God? Any accomplishment can be my God? *** Do not worship angels in Revelation 22:8-9, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. After that, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. He is the one who had been showing me these things. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I serve God, just as you do. I am God’s servant, just like the other prophets. And I serve God along with all who obey the words of this book. Worship God!” ******* The bottom line in Isaiah 45:5-7, “I am the Lord. There is no other Lord. I am the One and only God. You do not know anything about me. But I will make you strong. Then people will know there is no God but Me. Everyone from where the sun rises in the east to where it sets in the west will know it. I am the Lord. There is no other Lord. I cause light to shine. I also create darkness. I bring good times. I also create hard times. I do all these things. I am the Lord!” Amen!
Amy what a beautiful reflection this morning. My wife and best friend Kathy went to be with the Lord in 2019. We had 4 children grown, and 3 grandchildren. She's still with me helping me when I need correction. Jane Yes I still am teaching my 2nd graders. Last week Tuesday to Saturday was rewarding and exhausting. Met with my veterans club from community College, haven't seen some of them for 50 years. They came with wives and my best man who's a photographer made a slide show of old pictures. Funny, Memorable, sad as Kathy was in many pictures. When the girls got together I pictured Kathy right in the middle. Was at North Conway New Hampshire. Nine hours away and mist on two lane roads. Two day reunion 3 days driving by myself, with fond memories. My home parish asked me to help with first communion mass Sunday it was after my 2nd graders. It was a touching moment 35 boys and girls, my job was to relax them, and distribute the wine. Only 5 people came to me, no first communicates. I will keep Analeise and Karen in my prayers. Ken
Oh Ken, I forgot about the road trip!!!!! That is so great that you could go. I’m so glad you could connect with the other vets. Kathy was definitely there in spirit and providing you company on the journey. Thanks for the prayers and good job calming the kiddoes before communion!
Thank you for the reminder to keep God at the center! My husband died suddenly in 1998 when my daughter was 11 years old. I'm praying today for you and those who are journeying through losses.
Good morning LFF. Thank you so much Amy for the inspiring message, it really hit home for me.☮️
Thank you, Amy, for the beautiful reflection today. Our Crosses in Life: "Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey." St Anthony of Padua This quote is especially meaningful to me today, as this coming weekend I will begin the El Camino de Santiago, weak hip & all.
Irene - this is amazing! Can’t wait to hear about it. Are you doing a piece of it? Let us know!
Amy, thank you for sharing. How difficult to tease out our dealing with grief and making it that idol taking center stage. Everyone deals with grief in different ways and in different time frames. For those still experiencing grief long after the funeral I guess the question is does it “rule” your life? Is it the defining factor in your life? For my eldest son I think this is true. For me I live as if God rules even when I recognize my grief creeps up many days in many situations. If we let our grief turn us toward God instead of away then we have used it for good and He will make it easier and comfort but if we focus only on the grief in place of God or in such anger with Him then Satan wins a battle.
Thank you Amy, for another wonderful reflection this morning. I’ve so enjoyed your stories of you and your sons’ lives and all the places you’ve visited with them over the years. Those we’ve loved will always be in our hearts, without a doubt. And we go forward with prayer and action as Our Lord Jesus asks of us. Prayers going up for the people who have been affected by the storms in our country this last weekend. Oh Lord, please give them the strength they need to rebuild their lives. Amen.
Thank you so much!
Thank you Amy for another of your wonderful reflections. Prayers need for the many who suffered disaster this last Saturday from tornados in the Midwest. Particularly, remember the families and friends who lost loved ones in Oklahoma tornadoes. Sulfur,Oklahoma had its downtown virtually wiped out by tornado destruction. Also Marietta, Holdenville and Hillsdale. God, please give them strength and perseverance for rebuilding. Thank you
What is idolatry? *** The worship (attention given) of someone or something other than God as though it were God! *** Whenever one honors and reveres someone or something in place of God! *** When we treasure anything or anyone above the Lord, we're practicing idolatry to one degree or another! ******* Anyone (someone) or anything (something) that stands between God and I is an idol!!! What or who do I go to when I need help or share my praise (give credit to) that’s not God Himself? What kind of “golden calf” do I create so I can physically look at or feel like I am worshipping or praying to God as the Israelites did in the desert? *** I remember getting very upset when I cannot find my wooden cross so I can hold it in my hand when I pray :-) *** I remember going to the phone first before going to the throne when I tend to resolve a problem on my own! *** There is nothing wrong with going to someone or something only after going to God first and guided first by the Holy Spirit! ******* The biggest idol of my life is “I, Me and Myself!” I tend to step in front of what God has planned for me because His timing is not my timing, His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways in Isaiah 55:8-9!!!
I remember the sudden horrifying realization of idolatry in the days when I read the horoscopes in newspapers establishing my expectation for the day ahead as if it was God’s Word :-( *** What or who do I go to above and before God’s Word?!?!?!
I too never thought of continuing to dwell on a past event as a form of idolatry! That was a rude awakening for me and this realization is going to help me change from this perspective. Thank you for this!
Dear Amy, I have been a subscriber to Living Faith for 30+ years and I remember when your husband died so unexpectedly. I cannot believe it is already 15 years. We know that God's strength and love has gotten you and your family to the place you are now. God Bless you all+++ Marsha T. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Time does move so quickly...
Thank you, Amy, for the inspiring response to the tremendous loss you and your sons have and still are experiencing. With that kind of Faith, there is nothing that can keep you down. I pray your sons will remember their father and follow his and your example.
Amy, thank you for sharing part of your family's story. I never realized that we could make an idol of an event. Thank you for giving me a new view of possible idols.
Good morning Amy and thank you for sharing that part of your journey with us. What a moving and apt reflection based on the readings today. I love how you called the event of your husband’s passing an idol. Something that consumed all other parts of life that now became the central object. So many things in our lives can fit that mold if we let them. Only one should have that pole position! Ken, how are you doing? Did you teach the kids yesterday? Lifting Karen in her treatments today (every Monday) and sending light to Analiese whose path needs to be clear and focus needs to be exercised. Amen.
Thanks Amy for this morning's reflection. Come Lord Jesus and take your place! We give you center spot in our lives, have your way, let your will be done we pray, Amen. St. Catherine of Sienna, pray for us. Monday blessings LFF.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Thank you, Jane, such an important prayer.
Good morning LFF... thank you Amy for this reminder that our Lord should always take center stage.... so sorry for the loss of husband
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I remember seeing this quote shortly after the loss of someone very dear to me. We first met at our very first Cancer Support Group Meeting in Houston. We clicked and started this new journey as friends. I don't know who Rumi is, but he was credited for this..."We are all just walking each other home".