How Will You Get to 4?

Our associate Pastor’s wife, Skylar, recently said something that I really thought was inspiring and thought provoking, something I thought I could expand on here, as a HOPE Note. Paraphrasing, she said, “2+2=4, but so does 3+1, or even 2x2. Sometimes 5-1, which means you experience loss or heartache to get to 4, but nonetheless, you still get to 4.”  

These aren’t math flashcards, but we can certainly learn from her “calculations.” As believers, we all have a common goal and that is to get to heaven. But how I get there and how you get there could be totally different. Some people seem to glide through life without too many hiccups along the way, while others hit every red light and knock over every hurdle. I really liked how her subtraction of 5-1 showed that there are times we go backwards, get side-tracked or suffer those minor setbacks, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we still get to 4! 

If you just met me, you wouldn’t know I’ve had cancer twice. By looking at her, always with a smile on her face, you would not know that Skylar’s grandmother has lost both of her adult children. You can’t look at someone and know what they are dealing with; just as they can’t know your struggles and heartache. But when we treat each other with kindness and love, the way the bible tells us to, we can help each other reach our common destination…4…I mean, heaven.