Too Little, Too Late

I was at the gym the other day when JoJo's song 'Too Little, Too Late' came on, and I was layed there doing my sit-ups and just thinking "wow". Now I am reluctant to say this just because I never would have thought that such a song/singer would make an impact to me in the way it did.

Firstly, I've have to note that when it comes to God, blimey, He'll use anything to talk to you and that day, in the gym, He used JoJo. Pure genius is our God!

Secondly, I might add, I'm not a feminist. I cringe at all those 'independent women' things. I want to fulfil my role as a woman; being assertive, being confident, being elegant (if that will ever happen??), being beautiful, being for Christ. I don't want to make a song and dance over my rites or whatnot. I'm all up for building girls and women up, but I feel that that is something you can do in Christ, not by making it a big deal of it. Anyway, I'm losing track here..

The song talks about a guy who says he likes her but then is acting contrary to his words, and so she is now saying 'tough, i'm moving on'. So, I was on the floor infront of the big screen watching JoJo's face and listening to this. My first thoughts were "man, guys are stupid, we don't need guys" (my momentary feminist lapse). but then as i thought about it, tow things occured to me, one about how we all have a tendency to settle for second best. Not just with boyfriend/girlfriend relationships but with friendships too.

I've been challenged lately to make more effort with the people i care about, I really want to build them up and support them. Not let them down or make them feel like rubbish. I've realised this because I hate it when people do it to me, and so I want to prove a point (to myself) that being nice is a nice feeling. Friendship is mighty important, but it takes two to make the effort.

The second thing that occurred to me, was that actually, we are independent. We shouldn't cling to any kind of attention or love or affection or affirmation (however good/nice it is) from the people around us, because believe it or not, they will let us down. We can never be satisfied with love unless it's from Christ, because the word of God says "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" (romans 8:35) and the answer to that, if you need to know, is NOTHING. How incredible is that?

I just want to be a light of Christ in my friendships and relationships, so what if they don't see it? but as long as I can strive to be more Christ-like, then God can use me to build up, encourage and support.

This is what I want:

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-17

Is that so much to ask?