I was happy to have the distraction of teaching her to make the (people) puppy chow that afternoon, because I was in the middle of some self-imposed stewing. Someone from our church had responded, in what "I" perceived, rather rudely to something that was meant for the good of all, not just our church. And it took me the better part of the day to calm down. It took a tremendous amount of self-control to not tell them my current perception of their actions.
Tuesday night, as I was ending my voluntary shift in the basketball concession, I had someone start in on me about all the things they didn't agree with. It probably wasn't the kindest gesture, but my facial expression was a wide-eyed are you serious? and my arms went up in the air and I walked off. My physical ability to bite my tongue is getting better, but the thumping pressure of blood coursing through my body is contending for top speed on Fast and Furious.
And it is only December 3rd.
This month is the month of self-control. We have to keep ourselves in check and control:
How much we indulge our appetite at the numerous Open Houses and Holiday Parties.
How much we spend on gifts.
How many gifts.
How full we fill our calendars.
The choice to attend church functions over sleeping-in or running errands.
If we have that extra glass of wine.
If we allow ourselves to get overwhelmed by all there is to do before the 25th.
If we show kindness (or at least the ability to be quiet...maybe not use our arms as we walk away).
If we slow down enough to realize that we are blessed and maybe there is something we can do for someone whose current situation isn't as comfortable as our own.
How many cookies we have.
How much puppy-chow we eat.
How many times we forgive others who are just as wound up by the season and things not going their way.
The season is in our hands. And I am preaching to myself here...the season should be in our hearts. Preach. On. It should be about Celebrating the birth of a savior. Savior. Sent to Save. We sang a song last night by 4Him "A Strange Way to Save the World". And so He did...
This should be the time of year that we are moved to extend grace, love, compassion, mercy, and the message of Hope. Yet we are more concerned over wrappings, shiny things, merlot, eggnog, proper verbage, and the next batch of perfectly decorated sugar cookies. Just typing all that makes my ears warm and so nervous I have to go pee.
2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
The power to choose our words. To power to search our heart for what is kind, true, and necessary.
Love. "Love Came Down at Christmas" is one of my favorite hymns. A Savior. Meant for good, and somewhere along the journey, the world krept in, and well...now we have to have self-control.
Self-discipline. It is an art I tell ya. Jesus saves...but His people, including myself, well...we make it all a little messy. Thanks a lot Eve...
The good news is, that if you woke up this morning, He is giving you another chance to give it a go. To lean on His Power to brighten your month, to wrap His Love around you like a fuzzy blanket, and to rely on His Self-Control (remember He was tempted too) to fill our stockings to the end of earth.
Change is hard. Changing our mindset to what the season is really about is hard. It goes against every breeze that hits us when we step out our front door. It goes against every TV commercial, holiday flyer, and community comparison.
Change takes self-control, love, and power - all are freely given by a Savior, born in a manger, wrapped in sack cloth.
"Love Came Down at Christmas" by one of my favorite Christian Bands - Jars of Clay
"A Strange Way to Save the World" perfomed by Rascal Flatts (Beautiful!!)
No comments:
Post a Comment