My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, " James 1:19 NIV
"We had pasta and sauce for dinner last night," the little girl shared.
"No, we didn't we had spaghetti for dinner last night," her brother was quick to correct her.
"Nah-uh"
"Uh-huh"
"Quit it you two, you're saying the same thing just listen to each other!"
Then later with my husband, "No you don't need to stay." I just finished talking about Bible study and the possibility he'd need to bring our daughter up. That's where my mind was when he asked if he'd need to stay. I mean why would he stay at a women's Bible study.
As I prepared to leave, he asked "So you'll get her from practice?"
"No you are, then you'll bring her to wherever I am."
"But then I need to stay."
"Yeah, it'd be kind of silly to drive back and turn around just to go back there."
"You said. I didn't need to stay." Ugh!
Oh, the misunderstanding that can happen just because we don't listen clearly. If I had stopped and listen to his question more clearly, or if he had paid attention as I went on to explain that men can't stay at our women's Bible study, then we would not have had to have the later conversation.
How often do we fail to listen? To hear what is clearly being said. Sometimes in the rush of things I fail to listen, or my mind wanders. I really want to listen, but something else pops into my head while I'm trying to listen.
As I was reminded later that evening, God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. It's so we can be quick to listen and slow to speak.
I hope this week I can listen and really understand what's being said, because sometimes the person talking to me just needs a listening ear not any advice.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The Unexpected Guilt
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised to be faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
I was in for quite a shock last week. I had scheduled my MRI, and arrived at my appointment. To the sounding voice of the pleasant receptionist, "That'll be $810, please."
"Gulp, what do you mean? We always get billed later."
"You mean you weren't called." At that moment I wasn't sure what to do, I had no idea what the balance on our HSA was. Do I leave, the therapy's working maybe I don't need this. My husband griping in the background didn't help.
I took the chance that maybe the money would be available on the card, it was. So then I went through with the appointment feeling guilty for having to spend that kind of money on me. Especially after the ER visit.
I waited patiently for the results. Knowing that this was a Tuesday evening, and it took 48 hours I figured at the very least it'd be Friday. No news then, so I wait through the weekend planning to call sometime on Monday.
Luckily, though they called Monday morning of course while I'm away. The message though didn't give me the results, only that I need to make an appointment for that. So I do.
"Ok, Lord, I don't understand this but I'll go." I wasn't sure what to think, I mean if everything was fine than wouldn't they just tell me over the phone.
One person told me, "Must be bad news, good news they tell you over the phone."
Another said, "That's the way the doctor's do it now, so they can charge you again."
Not knowing what to expect, I went to my appointment. The news wasn't the best, but could have been worse. I have 6 bulging disc. Even though it wasn't the best news somehow I found relief. Because now I know I needed to keep the MRI appointment and don't feel so guilty.
God is faithful to me always, even if I don't know if I'm on the right path his hand is there to guide me.
I was in for quite a shock last week. I had scheduled my MRI, and arrived at my appointment. To the sounding voice of the pleasant receptionist, "That'll be $810, please."
"Gulp, what do you mean? We always get billed later."
"You mean you weren't called." At that moment I wasn't sure what to do, I had no idea what the balance on our HSA was. Do I leave, the therapy's working maybe I don't need this. My husband griping in the background didn't help.
I took the chance that maybe the money would be available on the card, it was. So then I went through with the appointment feeling guilty for having to spend that kind of money on me. Especially after the ER visit.
I waited patiently for the results. Knowing that this was a Tuesday evening, and it took 48 hours I figured at the very least it'd be Friday. No news then, so I wait through the weekend planning to call sometime on Monday.
Luckily, though they called Monday morning of course while I'm away. The message though didn't give me the results, only that I need to make an appointment for that. So I do.
"Ok, Lord, I don't understand this but I'll go." I wasn't sure what to think, I mean if everything was fine than wouldn't they just tell me over the phone.
One person told me, "Must be bad news, good news they tell you over the phone."
Another said, "That's the way the doctor's do it now, so they can charge you again."
Not knowing what to expect, I went to my appointment. The news wasn't the best, but could have been worse. I have 6 bulging disc. Even though it wasn't the best news somehow I found relief. Because now I know I needed to keep the MRI appointment and don't feel so guilty.
God is faithful to me always, even if I don't know if I'm on the right path his hand is there to guide me.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I'm Broken
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
The mug sat there in several pieces after its fall from the cabinet.
"Throw it out," was the first response, "it'll be to hard to fix."
The pieces though, I felt could be put back together by the right person. It sat for a couple of days, in the broken pile. Soon it was moved to a bag, that way all the pieces could stay together and out of my way.
It seemed this poor mug would end up in the trash. Before long though, the right one came for the job. He found just the right glue. He sat down and figured out where each piece fit. Some of the pieces were stubborn, the handle didn't want to stay in place even after holding it for several minutes.
When it was almost complete, it seemed a piece or two was missing. He searched the location of the fall and found them. The mug was now complete, put back together. Not quite as good as new, but the cracks now showed character. It had a story to tell whenever someone asked.
We are like this mug. We become broken, we feel like we should be thrown out with the trash. But the right one sees us and won't let that happened. We call out to the fixer, the potter.
He painstakingly molds us back together. He may have difficulty with some of our flaws, we may be stubborn and not want to change. The potter though keeps working at it until finally it sticks.
The finish product may still show the scars, the pain at times, but it's now a part of who we are- our character. We now have a story to tell. The potter came and fixed this broken piece of clay, and molded me to be the disciple I am today.
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
The mug sat there in several pieces after its fall from the cabinet.
"Throw it out," was the first response, "it'll be to hard to fix."
The pieces though, I felt could be put back together by the right person. It sat for a couple of days, in the broken pile. Soon it was moved to a bag, that way all the pieces could stay together and out of my way.
It seemed this poor mug would end up in the trash. Before long though, the right one came for the job. He found just the right glue. He sat down and figured out where each piece fit. Some of the pieces were stubborn, the handle didn't want to stay in place even after holding it for several minutes.
When it was almost complete, it seemed a piece or two was missing. He searched the location of the fall and found them. The mug was now complete, put back together. Not quite as good as new, but the cracks now showed character. It had a story to tell whenever someone asked.
We are like this mug. We become broken, we feel like we should be thrown out with the trash. But the right one sees us and won't let that happened. We call out to the fixer, the potter.
He painstakingly molds us back together. He may have difficulty with some of our flaws, we may be stubborn and not want to change. The potter though keeps working at it until finally it sticks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)