It's time to count our blessings! Time to list the things we are thankful for on Facebook. It's time to help others less fortunate and buy extra cans of cranberries to those who can't afford them. Time to break out the cheesy corn bread casserole and black olives. Family time! Time to share stories, spend quality time together, make memories and bond closer over spiced apple cider.
It's Thanksgiving! And Christmas on the way!
OR rather..
It's time to rush to the stores, push people aside for the last sweet potatoe and grab all the best decorations before anyone else does. Time to lay on your horn and flip the bird to those who don't drive fast enough. It's time to whine on FB and call others out over petty stuff. Time to gripe about all the cooking and cleaning and weird guests coming. Time to fight over family issues and drink too much. Time to moan because you have to get up early to volunteer at the food pantry your once a year quota. Face it, just to look good to others.
We are all hypocrites.
Being sick all week I finally made it out of the house! I decided my one outing would be to Trader Joe's for some unique flowers. I had to make my outing simple so as to not overdo it. I can't lift either.
How excited and joyful I was to be able to go anywhere.
Monsters were there!
One of my favorite grocery stores had been invaded by green eyed, selfish, out for themselves, crotchety people of all ages, sizes and colors! I hobbled to the only electric cart and sat idle for 12 minutes. I silently waited to even enter into the store. Ill mannered people flooded out of the store 5 at a time with their huge turkeys and bags of stuffing as if they were being chased down by mobsters.
Finally I got in by weaving and swerving my cart. When I made it to the vegetable section people got impatient. Apparently I perused the parsnips for too long. One elderly couple stood patiently until I was done and said. " Have a nice day!" Nice people, praise the Lord! ! I had to hold my mouth shut from yelling to them, "Get out now while you're still alive!"
Then it got down right nasty. Apparently I had unknowingly offended someone in the meat section. Because in the dairy isle a highly chiseled mother reached over my head and across my body 5 times while also stepping in front of my cart. I must have been invisible because she didn't acknowledge me at all. I told her to have a good day. I got a nasty look. I think she meant, "Happy Thanksgiving!"
I felt great sadness.
PRAISE God because He has
broken my heart for those who hurt.
These seemly fine people turn frenzied and leave their nice hat at home, all in the name of THANKS...GIVING. I used to be one of those bitter creatures. How sad.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist,confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:13-18 NKJV
We are self-centered and have a sin nature. When we are Christians we are still hypocrites, because we are human. The world sees us as putting on a false appearance. But as my pastor explains well, the church if full of hypocrites, otherwise we wouldn't be there, or shouldn't be there. Thank God that He is a gracious Lord who loves us enough to open our eyes to our selfishness and encourages us to do better.
My goal is to confuse the world.
I want to be that bazar person who shocks people because my behavior is different. I crave to please the Lord with my behavior, not please the world.
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 NKJV
While I wanted to shout to this lady who rudely reached over me, "I hope your turkey burns!'
Instead I said a quick, silent prayer that I would be able to hold my tongue. Only by God's power was I able to say something nice instead.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 21:23 NKJV
I had a heart for this broken lady. I felt compassion towards her. I know that there is something driving her to live as the world lives. I also wonder what might be going on with these angry and harried people. Did a family member land in the hospital this week? Did their spouse yell at them earlier in the day? It's easy to know my own ailments, but sometimes I am blind to why strangers don't inherently know how I physically suffer day to day. How dare they! I slip back into, "It's all about me mode."
I can't help but to chuckle as I write this. Those who have known me in the way past, or know me now, know how I used to have angry outbursts. They know that once in a while I slip even now. Fussing at my kids or husband, especially while my pain level is intense. In my young days, throwing glass items against the wall in anger was my specialty. It was no excuse and I was the only one responsible for my behavior. I was without Jesus. I wasn't capable myself of behaving appropriately. I did not have the unexplainable comfort and peace that God blesses me with now, now that I know Him. I knew how bad I was hurting inside. I knew the grotesque things that had happened to me. Still it was my choice to behave that way.
I know the deep black empty pit well.
So, as God is amazing in His ways, He has given me a heart and a love for those who are mean, i.e. hurting.
So when I go out to shop, or anywhere else, I count my blessings. Thankful that I have a car, money to buy a turkey, amazing trees and beauty around me. I have a family that loves me, I have friends that love me. I am breathing, I woke up.
I pray that I keep confusing people.
People that love Jesus should be different.
May you be filled with God's love and Turkey!
Comments