Tonight around the dinner table we were talking about unconditional love. You know that kind of super natural love that only comes from God and allows you to love others even in the midst of the mess. I started thinking about how that love gets reflected in everyday relationships and I thought of this story.
About a week ago my little brother came home from college to spend Easter weekend with us and celebrate his birthday which happened to fall on his break. We had a bunch of his friends over and with the leadership of my dad, the mastermind chef, we were putting together a great meal.
Due to some quantity issues and some last minute adjustments my dad asked me to whip up some stir fry sauce. It was getting close to the time that everything else was ready and so I started to get flustered and hurry. I was dumping things in and feeling sorry for myself that no one was helping me as I got more and more anxious about getting the sauce done "in time." I couldn't find one of the ingredients, chicken broth, and when I did it was in a 32 oz can and all I needed was a quarter cup. It was the last thing to go in and I quickly tried to pour it in only to succeed in pouring it all over the table and the floor. I exploded a little then myself and starting banging things around in my frustration, and complaining out-loud now that I didn't have anyone helping me.
Instead of telling me to snap out of it (which I would have deserved), or to stop blaming others for your spills and mistakes (which I also would have deserved), my sister & brother stepped over and gently took over my sauce-making disaster. My brother stirred up the sauce and my sister wiped up the mess.
When I took a deep breath and turned to apologize, I kissed my sister and said, "Thank you for cleaning up my mess." They both looked me in the eye and said "We love you, Megs."
It struck me today that that is how Christ loves us. He wants us to ask for help, but even when we don't and we make a mess of things, He steps in to clean it up and to redeem even our mistakes. And why? Because He loves us. He did not choose us because our great might or strength, He chose us because He loves us. He is not surprised when we fail, nor does His grace ever find an end. He loves us even in the mess!
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Learning to give thanks
I told a story yesterday to a friend of mine and I think that it bears repeating.
Last year in my first year as a school nurse I met a student who touched my life. He was what school nurses refer to as a frequent flyer and came to see me nearly every day with some concern. These physical needs were simply a cover for what became obvious to me as a need to feel connected and to be cared for. He was always polite, and never disrespectful and I grew to really enjoy seeing his smiling face and hearing the oft repeated request, "Can I have some vaseline for my lips?"
Towards the end of the year I was informed that on field days it would be my job to hand out ice-pops to ward off dehydration. In the course of two days I would hand out nearly 500 ice-pops to the kids as they ran from station to station. The first day--grades k-2 went very well. The kids sat down, and they listened to my instructions as I explained that there was to be no special requests for a particular color or flavor, that they would just have to "get what they get." Each class thanked me--corporately and individually and moved on to their next activity. The second day didn't go so well. The older students--grades 3-5, were picky, and their time with me was chaotic. They didn't listen to my direction and complained if they didn't get the ice-pop they wanted. It was not such a fun day.
Part way though that crazy day, my "frequent flyer" came with his class for their turn at the rest station. I tried to explain that they couldn't choose their flavor but no one was listening and I gave up trying. I was handing out ice-pops as fast as I could when my friend stopped in front of me and asked if he could have a blue one. I sighed a little and explained for the umpteenth time that day, that "I'm sorry but I can't let people pick their flavor, its too hard with so many kids." I handed him a pink one and he started to turn away, but then he stopped. He paused, and looked me in the eye and said, "Thank you very much, Miss G.," and turned and walked away.
It was all I could do not to cry on the spot. I saw him later and told him how proud I was of him that he had made the choice to be thankful even when he did not get what he wanted.
What a precious lesson to learn! I pray that I would learn the same. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus for you." Give thanks in EVERYTHING. That leaves no room for an ungrateful heart no matter what life may bring. Lord Jesus, may I like Paul learn to be content in all circumstances.
Last year in my first year as a school nurse I met a student who touched my life. He was what school nurses refer to as a frequent flyer and came to see me nearly every day with some concern. These physical needs were simply a cover for what became obvious to me as a need to feel connected and to be cared for. He was always polite, and never disrespectful and I grew to really enjoy seeing his smiling face and hearing the oft repeated request, "Can I have some vaseline for my lips?"
Towards the end of the year I was informed that on field days it would be my job to hand out ice-pops to ward off dehydration. In the course of two days I would hand out nearly 500 ice-pops to the kids as they ran from station to station. The first day--grades k-2 went very well. The kids sat down, and they listened to my instructions as I explained that there was to be no special requests for a particular color or flavor, that they would just have to "get what they get." Each class thanked me--corporately and individually and moved on to their next activity. The second day didn't go so well. The older students--grades 3-5, were picky, and their time with me was chaotic. They didn't listen to my direction and complained if they didn't get the ice-pop they wanted. It was not such a fun day.
Part way though that crazy day, my "frequent flyer" came with his class for their turn at the rest station. I tried to explain that they couldn't choose their flavor but no one was listening and I gave up trying. I was handing out ice-pops as fast as I could when my friend stopped in front of me and asked if he could have a blue one. I sighed a little and explained for the umpteenth time that day, that "I'm sorry but I can't let people pick their flavor, its too hard with so many kids." I handed him a pink one and he started to turn away, but then he stopped. He paused, and looked me in the eye and said, "Thank you very much, Miss G.," and turned and walked away.
It was all I could do not to cry on the spot. I saw him later and told him how proud I was of him that he had made the choice to be thankful even when he did not get what he wanted.
What a precious lesson to learn! I pray that I would learn the same. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus for you." Give thanks in EVERYTHING. That leaves no room for an ungrateful heart no matter what life may bring. Lord Jesus, may I like Paul learn to be content in all circumstances.
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