one of our readers asked us to post about community, and the role that it plays in our lives, especially with ian's disability.
the next day after that email was sent, our lawn mower stopped working while devon was mowing for us. i sent an email that evening to a man in our church, and by the next morning he wrote back to say he would be by that afternoon. by 2:00, i received another email that it was fixed.
that's what community has been to us. being involved in a church that is dedicated to serving others with gratefulness.
even though it can seem that we are always on the "asking" end, which we are, God has helped us to have humility. it can also seem that we don't have much of a role in the church - we can't serve in children's ministry, or lead a care group, or play on the worship team. but as believers, we do have a role in the community of the church and our community at large.
we're surrounded by our biological family and our church family who are always willing to give and help us. like any marriage, ours is not just two people. our marriage is a whole church.
even now as i write this, ian is with his brother caleb and i get a whole day to myself. caleb said that sounds lonely, but it sounds perfect to me. and without community, this wouldn't happen.
grateful for a quiet saturday morning.
thank you, for praying
larissa
14 comments:
Actually, I see your role in the church as crucial. You serve as ones who walk in humility and victory through disability, and the church learns from you. You serve as those that your brethern have the great privilege of serving with joy. You serve as a reminder of how amazing God is!
Barbara
Sometimes we all need a little quiet solitude! Hope you are having a great day.
Love, Love, Love to you, Larissa ~
"it sounds perfect to me" -- oh sister, I get it!
b in va
Larissa, i hace just red about You and ian. I read quickly the whole blog... Your writings really touched my heart. Im surprised abou who was ian and who is he now... I think he was and still is a very but very smart Guy.... And im also surprised about how much you both love our Lord. Believe me, you are an example to me, and your lifes are completely desirable. Please post about your love story and the way you me.
Love in Jesús
Ana cecilia
So happy you both have that. It sounds safe and sweet to have such a community :)
I Just had to comment to encourage you, Larissa. Your unconditional love and support for your husband is one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life. Your ministry is living beside your husband every single day. Reminding us all that we too, are broken and are in need of mercy, grace, and unconditional love. Thank you for your oh so tender heart. God Bless you!!!!!!
Maybe there are some things that you "can't" do. We all have those in our lives.
Here's one thing you can do...and are doing:
Encouraging hundreds of thousands who read your blog and see your video to have a closer walk with Christ.
God bless you and Ian!
Still praying!
Mary Ann K.
You are so strong
You guys are amzing. Thank you for your incredible display of the the Truth that 'our life' is not really 'our own'. It's God's.
Larissa,
I just wanted you to know how blessing was for me to see your video.
God's awesome.
And that's awesome to see how He has act in your life.
From Brazil,
prayng for you and Ian,
Samara
Thank you for sharing your heart. I came to the blog via a friend who shared your wedding story/video on Facebook.
Ian, you are such an encouragement. We struggle with disability. We are a family with adult children with disabilities. Church is so hard because people seem afraid to know us, approach us. We have a service dog to help our son. People are more attracted to the dog than to the rest of us. They don't know what to say, and we don't know how to help them. We can never be what they expect us to be, what they are comfortable with. So it's a joy and a strength to see that you are surrounded by community, and able to contribute of yourself. But we also know how very hard that is to do, to give generously of yourself and hope it will be accepted. Thank you for living as freely as you do in community and sharing that joy with the rest of us.
Peace, dear Larissa and Ian
Larissa, today you say,
like any marriage, ours is not just two people. our marriage is a whole church.
What a deep thought...I have never seen my marriage like you do, rather "Elena and me, and, besides, our church". Indeed your blogs are like pages of Acts 29 (sic)...
I pray for Ian
The grace of Jesus be with you both
Joan
Barcelona, Spain
J
Үour style is unіquе compared to оthеr folks
I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.
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