I could tell you that my sinful, evil nature means I am a glutton. That would be true, but that's not what this post is about.
I could tell you that my sinful, evil nature means I can be slothful. (Don't you just love that old English word for lazy that makes you think of a porch slug?) But that's not what this post is about, either.
Today my sinful, evil nature has many words: meanness, orneriness, irritability, unkindness, or just plain old grumpiness.
I am an adult. I don't feel that old most days, but the reality is, I'm old enough that I'm considered old-school. Don't believe me? You should have seen the looks on teenage faces over Thanksgiving when I told them they should turn their cell phones off before going to bed (as one teen had sent a garbled text to her boyfriend in her sleep and was showing it to everyone while others talked of being awakened to an incoming text or call during the night) and was met with shocked faces and stunned silences. Then one of the boys said, "And then how will the alarms go off in the morning to wake us up?" Yeah, dumb me. Cell phones have alarm clocks, or at least the cool ones do. And kids today don't wear watches, either. Who needs one when your phone gives you the time?
So I feel a little on the mature side. Until I come home. I have my nicely organized laundry, my "to do" list of activities, things I need to get done today and things I'd like to get done today, and then the phone call comes. Someone who's trying to be helpful and loving, but in reality is checking up on us because we are unable to care for ourselves (see how mean-spirited I can be!) and I get more than a little testy/irritable/snippy with her on the phone. And I hang up and think 'ooh. I wasn't very nice." But that can't be undone.
I don't like being told what to do. I don't like have to explain my rationale for things and the way I do them to people. Sometimes I know it has to be, but when it comes to running my own household...really?
It's not even 10:30am, and I've already blown it in the loving/kindness/graciousness department this morning. His mercies are new every morning, and I"m SO thankful for that, because today I need an extra dose of them.
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3 comments:
I'll let you in on a little secret. If someone does something to offend you then hold your breath and count to ten. Maybe you've heard of this before? ;-)
Or you can always just keep a Bible handy and flip to James 1:19 when in need. Or perhaps you're at that desperate stage where you need to bind a phylactery on your forehead with this verse in it? On second thought, that didn't seem to work too well for the Pharisees so maybe you better pass on that one. But I'll be sure to let you know if I come up with any other stupendous ideas!!!
You know, Rich, I actually KNOW that secret! But like my 6-year-old niece, "My brain loses it's signal" when I encounter this person at certain times. And since unlike the Psalmist I don't have a guard in front of my mouth, I've considered resorting to a staple gun. Needless to say, that's quite a fleeting thought! :)
Everyone has that "someone" that means well but annoys them because they aren't REALLY thinking when they give you their opinions. Or at least they aren't thinking from your point of view. And it is EXHAUSTING having to explain your way of doing things and why to others. So...I just let people think badly of me. So be it- I know what I'm doing and it works for me:)
~Still learning to grin and bear it~
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