Tag: Phil Robertson

Effective Prayer for Complex Family Connections

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

Good day from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! I’ve been busy with garden chores and shooing mosquitoes away. I’ll tell you! I miss my Mosquito Magnet. That device truly works at clearing spaces of biting, blood-sucking insects. Well! I’m switching gears: I’m not sure why God has placed Phil Robertson and his family in my path.

Over the past week or two, Phil and his family have shown up on my YouTube feed. As a result, I try to watch whatever appears to understand what God wants me to learn about family, faith, and Him. Especially since my oldest and I are not speaking because I have chosen to wish his two middle children well and keep my distance from them. I know my decision might seem unlovable for a grandparent, but I was never allowed to be one. Sadly, they grew up to perpetuate the environment in which they were raised. I dislike mindsets that show entitlement and greed, especially when linked to family expectations.

Sidenote: My son and I are talking for now, but anything, even a puff of wind, could cut off communication; therefore, I will enjoy the moment for what it is. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Lord, family is a complex group built around bonds, with many ups and downs. Heavenly Father, we humbly ask for Your guidance, both as individuals and together, to help us understand that everyone is uniquely created and has expectations that match our innermost selves. In other words, please help us to respect and love individual differences. Amen.

Honoring Truth in Legacy and Loss

Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

I recently viewed Phil Robertson’s celebration of life ceremony. I was profoundly moved by his service for numerous reasons. However, the primary reason is that his legacy was grounded in truth. It is all too common for us to attend funerals where inaccuracies are presented about the deceased, either to enhance their reputation or to detract from it. During such moments, the atmosphere becomes laden with an unsettling heaviness, creating a sensation that the spirits are lingering, unable to transition peacefully.

In my family, we experienced the loss of a relative, and their offspring spent years proclaiming to anyone willing to listen that they represented their deceased parent’s legacy. Unbeknownst to them, many were laughing and speaking disparagingly about the parent, as their shortcomings were significant. And what was even more chilling was their behavior as they embraced their parents’ deceitful legacy as their own.

During my observation of Phil’s funeral, I arrived at the conclusion that it is not the deceased whom I fear, but rather the living individuals who perpetuate deception that instill a sense of apprehension within me. Consequently, I have chosen to forgo a traditional funeral in favor of a brief graveside service. My intention is to protect my children from the deception of those I have spent years shielding them against. I do not wish for my children to find themselves embroiled in disputes over possessions they did not earn and were only bequeathed to them upon my passing. It is my belief that my life should signify more than mere financial gain. I desire for them to understand that the time I dedicated to self-improvement, so I could become a better person and mother, is what truly matters, as I could not have achieved either without the guidance of Christ. And! This is what I witnessed at Phil’s services.

PRAYER

Father God, I humbly ask that you sweep over the souls who follow you and desire to follow you. Amen