Thursday, January 3, 2019


Faithful
By Karen D’Amore

“…Well done, good and faithful servant!”

On our tenth wedding anniversary, I asked my husband the question, “So, after ten years of marriage…if you had to choose one word to describe me, what would that one word be?” Aware of my husband’s propensity to embellish things with humor, I knew I was asking a loaded question! I was pleasantly surprised when he took my question to heart, and responded in sincerity with the word…“Faithful.”

As a writer, I LOVE words; as a wife who loves words…I loved the word my husband chose. Merriam-Webster’s defines “faithful” accordingly:
            -obsolete: full of faith
            -steadfast in affection or allegiance: loyal
            -firm in adherence to promises of duty: conscientious
            -given with strong assurance: binding (1)

Upon reflecting on the true definition of the word “faithful,” I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to consistently uphold and exemplify its meaning, so as a constant exhortation, I had the word “Faithful” permanently inscribed on my inner left wrist.

A year later, I was deeply impacted by an interview between Sean Hannity and Rev. Billy Graham. When asked, “How do you want people to remember you?” Billy Graham responded, “I want them to remember that I was faithful: faithful to the gospel, faithful to the call that God gave me!” (2) Billy Graham’s response ignited and inspired the same desire in my heart. I too, long to be “full of faith”; faithful to the gospel, and to God’s call on my life! As honorable as it is to make faithfulness a hallmark in our human relationships, the faithfulness that matters most is in our relationship with God. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, NLT).

As Christ-followers, our faithfulness to God is demonstrated through our obedience to Him. His heart becomes our heart; His mind our mind; His will our will. We cannot be faithful to Him…while choosing our will over His. Jesus, our supreme example of faithfulness, had only one desire, “…Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42b, NIV).  His permanent inscriptions of His faithfulness and obedience to the Father - - His nail scarred hands - - should become our continual exhortation to be faithfully obedient.

Starting with faithfulness in the little things, let’s be good stewards of our families, jobs, finances, ministries and in that which God has entrusted us. And may our faithfulness reflect an eternal pursuit to hear His descriptive words…
                        “…Well done, good and faithful servant!”
GOING DEEPER:
1.  What interferes with your faithfulness to God?

FURTHER READING:

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility.