I recently came across a photo and “inspirational” quote on facebook and stopped to take a peek. After reading the words and seeing a few people’s comments; “I love this” and “words to live by!” I closed my computer and continued with my daily household duties. I did the laundry, dishes, vacuumed and all the while those words “respect yourself long enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you” burned a hole in my spirit. I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I HAD lived by those words, I might be a very lonely person by now. When my husband was less than perfect in my eyes, I would have walked. When my kids were whining, demanding and driving me crazy I would have ran. When my job had seasons of monotony I would have left. When my uncle who was on drugs and struggling ended up in prison, I would have stopped communication. And how many people would have walked away from ME? Is THIS what God had in mind when he sent his son to die for us? What about grace? Forgiveness? What about the cross? I don’t want to live a life so shallow that if someone fails me I walk. I want to dig deep and ride the storms out so that I can feel even for a moment the love that Jesus intended us to have. So I sat down and poured a cup of tea and wrote a different “inspirational” quote. Something that filled my spirit. And I urge you too, to not let the world bombard you with messages without questioning them, listening to your spirit and consulting with the greatest source of life-giving inspiration....the bible. Words to live by.
The path to happiness is going to God with your burdens and giving with a servants heart when all you want to do is walk away. And when you begin to plant humble seeds of gratitude... that’s when the real growth begins.
If someone hasn’t served you, grown you or made you happy, remind yourself that you are not God.
If someone hasn’t served you, grown you or made you happy, chances are it’s because you haven’t served them, grown them or made them happy.
Matthew 18: 21-22 NIV
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when sins against me? Up to seven times? "Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
