I have a completed greenhouse!  Everything is done except a few things my brother and his friend told me to do which will strengthen it and keep it more airtight.  In the process of getting this done God has shown me a couple of life pictures that I need to turn into lessons for living each day.  First of all, my Tuesday night class’s lesson was “Trauma”.  Last night we had to say out loud all the trauma from our childhood into our adult years.  I found myself very tense and uptight.  I didn’t want to step into saying more than beatings, sexual abuse, absence of nurture, etc.  Telling any stories defining them was too painful.  This morning God was tying this together with the greenhouse work.

Spending 4 days with my younger brother would seem fun and enjoyable and for the most part it was.  However, the teasing triggered so much of past that I was continuously feeling raw.  It also, at first, shut me down inside thinking I am still worthless.  I can’t do any of the skillful things dad could do and my brother can do.  This led me right into the worthless feelings of past–the things Satan has had a hay day with me.

Today’s devotional time was very focusing.  In it God was showing me how my brother’s areas of life gifts are very similar to dad’s and other relatives I have.  Mine, however, are in the intangible realm.  What my brother and I have in common is the gift of using our gifts for the help of others.  Every week my brother is helping several folks needing plumbing, household repairs, etc.  Every week I am helping those who are hurting inside emotionally or needing help working through other problems.  Both of us are willing to share our personal strengths with others.  I have never seen my strengths as comparable to my brothers or my dad’s.  I’ve always seen them as a “filler”.  I could try and fill my value with something that was hopefully useful.

Today I rejoiced for a moment that I am like my brother in being useful.  I do what I do to glorify God.  My brother does this too.  I can more easily let his teasing flow right off my back instead of going to my old beliefs.  This must be part of learning to live as the new creation God says I am.  Praise God!