"On Purpose"

[florene leblanc]

As a child, we all played a game called, Tag. It was a fun juvenile game that all children, rich or poor could and would play. Some one was it and everyone else would try to run away from that individual. If the individual caught you and hit you, you were it! You would run and run, and hit each other for the longest time. No one would get angry or upset. Sometimes you might be hit harder than usual, and though it would hurt you, you still did not complain or tell anyone. Inwardly, you might make a mental note that he/she hit you a little too hard, but since it was all in fun, there was no reason to complain or tell anyone. In fact, you would laugh it off and keep on playing. However, there would come the time when that person that was “it”, might not like you, or had a grudge against you, or was jealous of you. On the other hand, perhaps they “really” liked you and wanted to get your attention. In this case, they might hit harder, “on purpose”.
When we knew it was accidental, though it hurt, you would sometimes not even feel it – not even notice – and just kept on playing, but, when someone hit you “on purpose”, that was cause to stop the game stop the playing and go tell someone. On purpose added significance; on purpose meant it was serious; deliberate; intentional; calculated; premeditated. You immediately wanted to be sure someone else knew it happened to you “on purpose”. Even as adults we say and do the same thing…”he/she did it, “on purpose”. We would always want someone else to know if the act was a deliberate one.
Then again, when someone goes out of their way and does something very special for you, or gives you something “on purpose”, it has a special meaning and you, want to tell someone. Good or bad, if it is an intentional, planned act we are moved to tell someone. Those individuals who are in or “Oikos”, (relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors) will hear it repeatedly. It is as if the fact that it was on purpose makes us someone of importance. Not in a prideful kind of way, but in a special, meaningful, chosen way.
Matthew 28:19 states. “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. We are commanded by God to tell someone else our story, our testimony, as we humble ourselves for servant hood. We are His chosen ambassadors. Acts 13:36, “David…served the purpose of God
in his own generation”.
When we accept and realize our purpose is, “on purpose”, we will naturally fulfill God’s Great Commission; we will go tell somebody. I can hear it now… “I’m not a mistake…He created me, “ON PURPOSE”. My experiences were “god Filtered”. Wow, what a Godly Plan! Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. PURPOSE, have you thought about how you can help American Baptist Women’s Ministries “Bridge the Gap”.
Let us individually work on being a “Chayil”woman and collectively being a group of “Chayil” women. "Tag You're IT"