Having a productive day means a great deal to me as a single parent. Recently divorced, I have been struggling to come to terms with the responsibilities I now have, so Christ Care could not have come at a better time. For me, being productive requires a clear mind and clear heart – being right with Jesus Christ. The effort I have put forth in Christ Care mixed with the wisdom and support of my fellow members has been a recipe for a closer relationship with God and for many more productive days. Christ Care is a small group ministry at St. Martin’s, and together my group has read Christian texts, prayed, laughed, applauded and commiserated. By participating in Christ Care I find that I pray and act more intentionally and I live each day more in tune with the Lord. I think more about the needs of others, not just the folks in my group but people I come in contact with in my daily life. My Christ Care group is currently planning a out-reach activity with Project Open Hand. I am looking forward to packing or delivering meals with people I have come to admire. Before Christ Care I prayed a great deal but I was truly floundering as I struggled to survive my new, unwanted circumstances. The folks in my Christ Care group reached out to me from my very first meeting. They have given me tangible help in coping with my challenges. Each meeting I pick up a few nuggets to take with me. One member even made a CD of Christian music that my daughter and I listen to as we drive to and from her school. We have worn that CD out, learning each song by heart. My daughter loves to hear a song from the CD on 104.7 the FISH, and when I hear one I smile thinking of my Christ Care group. Now I am opening my bible almost daily with a view toward the Christ Care lesson, and I read or re-read our short, bi-weekly assignment. If someone had asked me a few months ago whether I had time to re-read anything, I would have thought the suggestion was appalling. As my group members could tell you, having “too much to do” is one of my major “challenges.” However, now I go forward each week knowing the other members of my group are regularly praying that Jesus help me get the important things done and generally find my way through these unchartered waters. Profoundly, Jesus is doing just that. Participating in Christ Care has also meant being there for the other members. While sharing my journey with Christ Care has lightened my load and lifted my spirit, sharing in the trials of the other members has strengthened my faith. My Christ Care friends have been dealing with loss of jobs, relocation, financial pressures, concerns for their children, divorce, and cancer. I have been blessed to see God working in the lives of my Christ Care group members and to be a part of that process by witnessing their struggle and praying for solutions. Simply put, through Christ Care Jesus is working more effectively in my life and has strengthened my bond with St. Martin’s. Through Christ Care I have read my bible more deeply and frequently, prayed more intentionally and for many more needs than my own, and deepened my relationships with fellow parishioners. Who would have thought I could find the time?
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