It's an honest question. Which do you tend to be? A person who starts fires or puts them out?
I would rather be a fire extinguisher most of the time. I don't enjoy conflict and I certainly am not the type to go around and look for fires to start. It baffles me how some individuals choose to start fires. I guess they are bored? Miserable, insecure? I can't say for sure, but I think some actually enjoy watching others burn up.
I have a person in my life who is like this and I am not close to them, but they still manage to light me on fire when they get the chance. This person really does this when they are feeling put out, inconvenienced, or think they are being treated unfairly. So when this happens, said person jumps to conclusions and immediately ignites me with a fire breathing mouth. He/She doesn't stop to think, request, clarify or ask. This person just assumes the victim role.
It takes A LOT for me NOT to burn them right back. Yes, I am guilty of defending myself (I have my fire uniform on). I do sometimes need to apologize to fire starters when I fanned the flame so to speak. Sometimes I am wrong and although the fire wasn't the best approach well I have to take responsibility for my part.
However, when all is said and I am trying to put out the last little ember, I grow as a fire extinguisher. I choose peace...because this is what the Lord asks of me, of all of us.
Do I like this person much? Nope, that is why we are not close, but I choose to extend forgiveness and grace.
I don't know how much coal reaping on said person's head happens, but to be right before the Lord is more important. I model my fire extinguishing to this person and hopefully others bear witness to it.
I choose to get the water hose out, douse the flames, and be peaceful.
Which one are you and what will you choose?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Saturday, August 14, 2010
What Grace Means to Me Part II
Grace is so undeserved and sometimes so is mercy! I have received both many times in my life. I am happy to say that one friend of mine REALLY showed me mercy and I was sad that so many other people tried to fix it with platitudes, wishful thinking and false comments of hope(unfortunately, I have been down this road before).
I am sure they meant well and now it is my turn to show them mercy. My one friend showed me more mercy than I have probably ever received in a lifetime by validating my hurt, hurting with me and she even said, "I am hurting for you!" Sometimes we just need someone to listen.
Some of you have recently read on my Face book page that Chris and I are in sort of a weird, uncomfortable job/money situation. No, not debt because we paid that off a few years okay, but no job for Chris after he just finished a teaching program to become certified to teach. Also, I only work 60% so a little more than half time as a teacher but, this is not enough money to live off of despite no debt.
My point is that WE RECEIVED GRACE and MERCY...how? Well, our tax refund combined with my income and what is left of our savings will allow us live with a tiny and I mean tiny bit of wiggle room FOR AT LEAST 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! This is if Chris doesn't get a job and I stay the same in my job status.
I can't believe how the Lord works! I would not have thought that this is how it would be (presently), but I am so thankful for serving a faithful and loving God. I never stopped being faithful to Him or trusting Him, I just struggled at times with both. I was disappointed, confused, and I hurt for Chris. Trusting God in the hardest trials of life is just, well--plain HARD. Grace is the mercy He provides during this time.
May we ALL learn to act like God when others are hurting...I know I have room for improvement.
I am sure they meant well and now it is my turn to show them mercy. My one friend showed me more mercy than I have probably ever received in a lifetime by validating my hurt, hurting with me and she even said, "I am hurting for you!" Sometimes we just need someone to listen.
Some of you have recently read on my Face book page that Chris and I are in sort of a weird, uncomfortable job/money situation. No, not debt because we paid that off a few years okay, but no job for Chris after he just finished a teaching program to become certified to teach. Also, I only work 60% so a little more than half time as a teacher but, this is not enough money to live off of despite no debt.
My point is that WE RECEIVED GRACE and MERCY...how? Well, our tax refund combined with my income and what is left of our savings will allow us live with a tiny and I mean tiny bit of wiggle room FOR AT LEAST 8 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! This is if Chris doesn't get a job and I stay the same in my job status.
I can't believe how the Lord works! I would not have thought that this is how it would be (presently), but I am so thankful for serving a faithful and loving God. I never stopped being faithful to Him or trusting Him, I just struggled at times with both. I was disappointed, confused, and I hurt for Chris. Trusting God in the hardest trials of life is just, well--plain HARD. Grace is the mercy He provides during this time.
May we ALL learn to act like God when others are hurting...I know I have room for improvement.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Each peck hurts...Part 1
Lately--I feel a little picked on--like someone has it in for me. Okay, I am exaggerating but sometimes life feels that way. As if some evil, twirp bird thinks I am birdseed and is pecking on me one by one to get its fill. It all seemed to really start the day after my second son was born. No, I am not blaming him at all! It just seems that the pecking started then.
First, my son was born with a tight tongue and NO one listened to me when I said it was affecting his eating. Then, my hubby got the stomach bug during the week he took off to be with his newborn son!! He was quarantined for 4 days and only could see his new son from a huge distance. Three weeks later, my newborn son got RSV (short for nasty, respiratory virus that can kill children under 1!!) and my poor son was sent to the PED floor for four days, underwent a spinal tap and other poking and prodding at the age of 3 weeks! At this point--we were having trouble nursing and still no one would clip his tongue.
My son was VERY fussy and it was not until about 2 and 1/2 months that someone finally listened and clipped his tongue and found out that he had REALLY bad acid reflux minus major spitting up--thank the Lord (I don't do well with projectile anything!). My husband and I lost TONS of sanity and sleep and didn't even go to church or see really anyone during that time. It was hard going back to work, but I had to.
Next, top all of that off with the fact that my son didn't sleep through the night until about 4 and 1/2 months, the acid reflux wasn't really under control until then, he sometimes refused to eat, was at 25% for weight, did I mention fussy? and we couldn't even go out to Target without it being a huge ordeal. Needless to say that by the end of the school year we had it mostly under control and could finally breathe.
I have to admit...my hubby and I were really wondering why our prayers and others prayers were heard but met with a resounding "Nope" on God's part. We didn't understand why God would not heal our son.
What we did understand though is that God was still there. We felt His presence, love and mercy. We somehow made it through all of that with supernatural strength and we were never really alone. We understand now that the Lord is still LORD even when the circumstances aren't in our favor.Very often, God is beyond our human comprehension and that is not easy to accept. No, we don't know why God allowed all of it really--except that we are stronger in our faith (we remained faithful) and we learned the above...and that even though the pecking hasn't stopped totally--We still love and trust the Lord Jesus-period.
First, my son was born with a tight tongue and NO one listened to me when I said it was affecting his eating. Then, my hubby got the stomach bug during the week he took off to be with his newborn son!! He was quarantined for 4 days and only could see his new son from a huge distance. Three weeks later, my newborn son got RSV (short for nasty, respiratory virus that can kill children under 1!!) and my poor son was sent to the PED floor for four days, underwent a spinal tap and other poking and prodding at the age of 3 weeks! At this point--we were having trouble nursing and still no one would clip his tongue.
My son was VERY fussy and it was not until about 2 and 1/2 months that someone finally listened and clipped his tongue and found out that he had REALLY bad acid reflux minus major spitting up--thank the Lord (I don't do well with projectile anything!). My husband and I lost TONS of sanity and sleep and didn't even go to church or see really anyone during that time. It was hard going back to work, but I had to.
Next, top all of that off with the fact that my son didn't sleep through the night until about 4 and 1/2 months, the acid reflux wasn't really under control until then, he sometimes refused to eat, was at 25% for weight, did I mention fussy? and we couldn't even go out to Target without it being a huge ordeal. Needless to say that by the end of the school year we had it mostly under control and could finally breathe.
I have to admit...my hubby and I were really wondering why our prayers and others prayers were heard but met with a resounding "Nope" on God's part. We didn't understand why God would not heal our son.
What we did understand though is that God was still there. We felt His presence, love and mercy. We somehow made it through all of that with supernatural strength and we were never really alone. We understand now that the Lord is still LORD even when the circumstances aren't in our favor.Very often, God is beyond our human comprehension and that is not easy to accept. No, we don't know why God allowed all of it really--except that we are stronger in our faith (we remained faithful) and we learned the above...and that even though the pecking hasn't stopped totally--We still love and trust the Lord Jesus-period.
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