Well Done, Kay…

Matthew 25:14-28 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

My friend, sister, mentor, god-mother, and my Colonel heard these prized words from our Lord early Friday (just happened to be Passover.. I’m just saying… Perfect timing to leave Egypt!) morning, April 3rd, 2015. I am so jealous! But I have no right to be… she DID the labor… 96 (plus a few months) she was given her 5 talents at birth and they were amazing. Beauty, strength, wisdom, ability and agility… the temptation to take these talents and “bury” them in my own back yard, using them only to make myself happy would have been (and has been) my way more times than I care to admit. But Kay found the better way. Kay found our Master and invested all of herself into His kingdom plan producing a harvest, a return on the talents given and I am absolutely sure she has been put in CHARGE of MANY THINGS in her new home!

I was given the luxury of “seeing” a life lived to the best of her human limitations in service, and this watching was used in me “to train me up in the way I should go” by our Master who wanted me to take notes and learn from one of His better servants. Kay had the great privilege (??) of being practiced on with the talents I have been given. I called her my Colonel not because she barked orders at me but because I knew she had fought in and survived battles in her 96 years that could only be won with PRAYER… the victory?… encouragement for those God had put in her platoons to care for and stand in the gap for.

So, I did spend time with her… practicing the techniques of encouragement… learning to use the weapons of warfare… hearing the stories of being a warrior for Jesus. Her beautiful daughters kept thanking me for visiting but I KNOW the gifts given and received in our time together were more for me than for her. I had heard of this faithful servant from my best friend (who is Kay’s possible replacement for Colonel status) who learned and walked her mother’s training – from boot camp to military retirement.

I was granted personal instruction and practice in Kay’s later years, when she was no longer able or called to be a public servant. For me, this was perfect because I got the best of the labor – the pre-birth preparation. Not so much of the blood and guts of life but the laying down of our human efforts/armor and taking up the excitement/peace of what is to come.

There still was “wrestling” to do, as all births require, and Kay did wonder often why hers was taking so long (At times Barb and I wondered why it had to be so hard). We did talk about things we had no answer for but we knew and went to the ONE who had the answer.  She taught me the secrets of being a Prayer Warrior and using the warrior’s weapons for the battles of life… Keep on keeping on… pray constantly… and “if you don’t who will?”…

What does this have to do with the Ministry of Encouragement?

Labor and delivery IS the stuff of life! I believe that from our birth we are given our “labor” of life and it’s God sent opportunity to be “born-again” in Christ… until we ARE “born” new and born perfect as the child God intended us to be… in heaven.

Encouragement is the fellowship we have with each other in the this endeavor of life. Prayer is the weapon before, during, and after the battles meant to defeat us in life.

If we do well in our labor and use our Lord’s investment in us to minister His grace and mercy to ourselves and those He puts around us, we will hear, like I’m sure my Colonel has heard… ‘Well done, Kay”!

Psalm 139:13-18 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.  Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. 

My labor… your labor… is in progress… let’s make the most of the time we have left. There is no need to be anxious about when/where, He is aware and in control. The only thing that is up to us is to invest or not to invest. Well done? or Bankrupt?

I know my Kay chose the best… it was written all over her and her life!

 

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB  version of the Bible