If It’s Monday plus five days (a/k/a Saturday), It’s Because Ian’s Birthday, Valentine’s  Day, My School Lunch and school were on Mama’s Agenda… 

G is for “Gam Zu L’ Tovah” Hebrew for “This, too, is for the best”

“Gam Zu L’ Tovah is from a story in the Talmud of a sage named Nachum, whose staunch faith in God led him to declare all of God’s actions as being for the best.  His name, therefore, became Nachum Ish Gam Zu, or Nahum, the man of “everything is for the best.”  Note that gam zu l’tovah does not imply that everything IS the best, that is, that this is the best of all possible worlds, but rather than everything is FOR the best, even if that future good is hidden from us at the present time.” (www.hebrew4christians.com) 

I have been studying a little Hebrew and really enjoyed this lesson of Nachum because he DECLARED all of God’s actions to be FOR the best, even those he could not see.  He placed his faith in the Lord and in God’s desire to prosper him…even when it did not feel that way.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I liked this with regards to you because you are at a point in life where many unknowns are coming onto your horizon. 

You have applied to your Social Work Program and await finding out your status

You work for a business which is laying off workers and you hope to maintain your employment

You are trying to decide to get an apartment or continue living at home and in dorm

You are looking at graduate schools and trying to decide where to attend

You are saving for trips for the future, which ones, if any, should you take 

You are trying to get back onto your PKU diet…it is hard 

You are striving to find a church home… 

You are challenging your friendships and are striving to keep only the true ones 

You are trying to manage your relationships, some of which are not easy 

You want to make good grades, in this you are successful

You want to be a good employee, as your review indicates, you are excellent! 

And, very important, you are trying to grow into God’s girl and are praying that you are patient until that time HE sends you God’s boy, if He does…

The list could go on and on of the things you talk with me about…those future plans for which you are trying to prepare.  But, as you prepare, I want you to remember what God says…

James 4:13-14 “ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

So, it makes sense to me to become Madison Gam Zu L’ Tovah….Madison believer that “everything is for the best.”  Because of Him….. 

For it is in this believing that you let go of relying on yourself and put your reliance on God… 

And, that is where you will find the answers to all of your life’s questions.   

G is also for GUMPTION… 

Gumption is the courage to act or to take what action is needed, when it is needed and you have this in spades.  One thing I am so proud of concerning you is that you have used your past to make yourself a better future…granted, it has been and remains a very slow process, but in that process, you have grown in “gumption” and for that I am very grateful. 

I believe that you believe that when you rely on God to direct your path, you can do anything He will bless.  I believe that you believe that when you make up your mind to do something, you will do it.   

There are things still on your canvas of life which you have not yet accomplished, but I believe you will.  I can see you walking that direction.  I know you know what you should do.  I believe you are building up the gumption to get it accomplished and are readying yourself. 

I believe in you. 

And, finally, but FIRST, G is for God. 

I talk a lot about God because I want to reinforce WHO it is we live for…and that nothing in life matters except that we live for Him. 

But, I know in your heart you know this…. 

So, I just want to share that G O D is all you ever truly will need in life.  The rest of the things you achieve, the rest of the people you love and have friendships with, the places you will travel, the jobs you will have, the scarves you will collect, the boys you will date (or men), the color you will paint your home, the car you will drive, the songs you will play, the books you will read…

They are just the icing on the cake of life…the little life-gifts that God gives us to show us his love, to encourage us to use to His glory, to use to help others, to be a blessing during our short breath of life…

But, GOD….HE is BEST….he is the Everything 

HE is the “everything is FOR the best”…. 

So, give your life over to Him and let Him work on you, 

Madison Gam Zu L’ Tovah…..daughter of everything is for the best.

 

Blessings and love,

Mama