Speaking of her season of grief, Elisabeth Elliot wrote,
“At such times I have been wonderfully calmed and strengthened by doing some simple duty . . . like a bed to be made or kitchen floor to be washed . . . Sometimes it takes everything you have to get up and do it, but it is surprising how strength comes. . . There is wonderful therapy in getting up and doing something. While you are doing, time passes quickly. Time itself will in some measure heal. . . . And in the doing of whatever comes next, we are shown what to do after that.”*
You may be familiar with the story of Elisabeth’s life. It was told in the movie The End of the Spear, a major motion picture released a couple of years ago. The movie included the heartbreaking details of the murder of her husband, Jim Elliot, and four other missionaries who were speared to death by the Waodani in 1956 as they attempted to befriend that Ecuadorian tribe.
In the years following the loss of her husband and her dreams of a life together with him, Elisabeth became a proliferate writer with a new passion and wisdom beyond her years. She learned some valuable lessons from her life’s experience, and she shares that wisdom through her books.
I have a great respect for those who have excelled in the face of adversity. As the old E.F. Hutton commercial used to say, “When they speak, I listen,” because I know that lessons learned from experience are as valuable as nuggets of gold – and Elisabeth is a storehouse of gold nuggets.
Where did she learn to handle emotional stress in this manner? From the example Jesus left as he endured the cross. She shares her understanding of his example in this quote,
“Our Lord did not halt all activity to brood over what was to come. He was not incapacitated by the fear of suffering . . . To the question, ‘What shall I do?’ (so often, for us the cry of despair) he simply answered, ‘This,’ and did what lay in his path to do at the moment, trusting himself completely into the hands of his Father.”*
*All quotes used in this article are taken from Twelve Baskets of Crumbs by Elisabeth Elliot.
Keeping it real,
Good post!! I love Elizabeth Elliot and I agree…we do always learn the most from our own life experiences or through others’ !!
And Elizabeth has taught so many so much by her words and example!
What are the chances?? You quoted Elizabeth Elliot and I had a quote of Jim Elliot on my last post!!!
Your tall glass of iced tea is waiting….as am I….will you be coming soon???
I enjoyed your list of 25 things about you …and I don’t think you could have bored me with 75 more !!
I noticed quite a few things we have in common !!
– we both have an only child – a daughter
–I’m not a ‘camper’ but I dutifully go because I love to be with my family.
– I’m not a ‘shopper’ , I go to town because I have something I need to buy
– I don’t eat seafood…. And I can’t say I every want to…it grosses me out.
– I love to walk
– I am a people person and love to sit and talk one on one …but I enjoy my solitude more and more as I grow older.
— I’m a great reader — my favourite thing to do — but without spell check I would be dead!!
@Julie: Thanks for the visit, and a special thanks for the encouraging email you sent. The internet is being used to spread so many evil things; I’m glad there are some who use it for God’s glory. You do a wonderful job of that at Pearls in a Nutshell. You can be sure I’ll be a regular visitor.
thank God that at least some good news are now being spread over the internet
Emotional stress is a very serious issue of which i never knew until i found myself inside of it and couldnt believe the way i got out and those tips have helped me emotionally to balance back to my normal me.