I thought I’d spend today thinking about pride again. Yesterday was a bustle of activity from morning until night, and although I tried to devote every spare thought to my 30 day project, I just didn’t have that many spare thoughts. By the time I had time for spare, I had no energy left to think!
But again – God had other plans. Even before I’d hit snooze the fourth time this morning, God was pointing out the phrase “love is not rude.” I was only thinking!! But apparently my thoughts were already headed down the path of rudeness – and I’d not even made my way out of bed yet.
And from there, I knew today was going to be a much bigger learning day than I wanted to think about on my day off.
I went shopping with Marie, and before we’d even made it to our destination, I’d glared at more than one driver and even called someone a dirtbag. And with every glare and every muttered word, God just kept tapping me and reminding me that love is not rude. Not to mention His reminders that I wasn’t in the driver’s seat – so it didn’t matter what I thought. It wasn’t my problem.
Then I got the lesson of the day. Marie and I stopped at a bookstore because I needed a new day planner. Of course I am incapable of stopping at just a day planner whenever I’m surrounded by books, so I was camped out on the floor next to the $4.97 shelf, when I realized I’d not seen Marie in a while. I got up and wandered around until I found her talking to a woman parked in the easy chair reading a book about divorce. They were deep in conversation and I just jumped in. I had no idea that God was about to use this conversation to teach me so much about love in action.
The woman talked…and talked…and talked. I was getting hungry, and I knew Marie needed to get home soon. I shifted from one foot to the other, wondering when the woman would stop developing “one more thing” to add to her story. And all the while, God ran the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 through my head, with it is not rude emphasized. I smiled (with effort) and mentally re-entered the conversation.
Repeat the scenario about five times.
It’s hard to be loving and kind when you so desperately want to end a conversation that is clearly going nowhere!
When I came home, I had to mow. I haven’t mowed in two weeks. Today it was more like a hayfield out there, so I had a lot of quality time between mowing and raking. And the whole time I was out there, God stayed on me about being loving – and about not being rude. He reminded me that if I’m serious about this business of writing and working with people, I’m going to run into the exasperating type all the time –and my job is to be kind – and to not be rude.
He reminded me that at times, it’s not going to be convenient to sit and listen. At times, people are going to be annoying. At times, people are going to be wishy-washy in what they say. But still, I get to love them.
When Marie and I talked to this lady about divorce, she explained that a friend of hers had tried and tried – for over twenty years – to be the husband he should be. But his wife didn’t want to try. He was tired – and ready to give up. And she thought he should be allowed that much – as a reward for trying so hard for so long.
How thankful should we be, Marie pointed out, that God doesn’t operate that way with us? When we don’t give things full effort…when we don’t hold up our end of the bargain…God keeps right on being God. He doesn’t say, “Well, you’ve reached your limit. You’ve worn me out. It’s over. I quit.”
And as I raked, God reminded me that He hasn’t given up on me yet. That this project warms His heart – because it proves that I’m serious about learning – about improving. And I am so thankful that He has not given up on me. That He is willing to work with me day by day – to teach me.
Just last night, I gave my devotions the short end of my attention span because I was tired. And yet I was thankful that God made time in His schedule today to meet with me while I raked – it was rude of me to cut Him off last night – but He showed me today how love really works – by not paying me back as I deserved.
But again – God had other plans. Even before I’d hit snooze the fourth time this morning, God was pointing out the phrase “love is not rude.” I was only thinking!! But apparently my thoughts were already headed down the path of rudeness – and I’d not even made my way out of bed yet.
And from there, I knew today was going to be a much bigger learning day than I wanted to think about on my day off.
I went shopping with Marie, and before we’d even made it to our destination, I’d glared at more than one driver and even called someone a dirtbag. And with every glare and every muttered word, God just kept tapping me and reminding me that love is not rude. Not to mention His reminders that I wasn’t in the driver’s seat – so it didn’t matter what I thought. It wasn’t my problem.
Then I got the lesson of the day. Marie and I stopped at a bookstore because I needed a new day planner. Of course I am incapable of stopping at just a day planner whenever I’m surrounded by books, so I was camped out on the floor next to the $4.97 shelf, when I realized I’d not seen Marie in a while. I got up and wandered around until I found her talking to a woman parked in the easy chair reading a book about divorce. They were deep in conversation and I just jumped in. I had no idea that God was about to use this conversation to teach me so much about love in action.
The woman talked…and talked…and talked. I was getting hungry, and I knew Marie needed to get home soon. I shifted from one foot to the other, wondering when the woman would stop developing “one more thing” to add to her story. And all the while, God ran the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 through my head, with it is not rude emphasized. I smiled (with effort) and mentally re-entered the conversation.
Repeat the scenario about five times.
It’s hard to be loving and kind when you so desperately want to end a conversation that is clearly going nowhere!
When I came home, I had to mow. I haven’t mowed in two weeks. Today it was more like a hayfield out there, so I had a lot of quality time between mowing and raking. And the whole time I was out there, God stayed on me about being loving – and about not being rude. He reminded me that if I’m serious about this business of writing and working with people, I’m going to run into the exasperating type all the time –and my job is to be kind – and to not be rude.
He reminded me that at times, it’s not going to be convenient to sit and listen. At times, people are going to be annoying. At times, people are going to be wishy-washy in what they say. But still, I get to love them.
When Marie and I talked to this lady about divorce, she explained that a friend of hers had tried and tried – for over twenty years – to be the husband he should be. But his wife didn’t want to try. He was tired – and ready to give up. And she thought he should be allowed that much – as a reward for trying so hard for so long.
How thankful should we be, Marie pointed out, that God doesn’t operate that way with us? When we don’t give things full effort…when we don’t hold up our end of the bargain…God keeps right on being God. He doesn’t say, “Well, you’ve reached your limit. You’ve worn me out. It’s over. I quit.”
And as I raked, God reminded me that He hasn’t given up on me yet. That this project warms His heart – because it proves that I’m serious about learning – about improving. And I am so thankful that He has not given up on me. That He is willing to work with me day by day – to teach me.
Just last night, I gave my devotions the short end of my attention span because I was tired. And yet I was thankful that God made time in His schedule today to meet with me while I raked – it was rude of me to cut Him off last night – but He showed me today how love really works – by not paying me back as I deserved.
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