It's been many months since I blogged...I will excuse it at spending five months getting ready to move to our new home. Lots of packing, after living twenty-two years in one place, and many decisions to be made. After depending on my husband to make many of those decisions for thirty-three years, it was quite an adjustment to live life on my own. I will say, however, that I have a much greater appreciation for my mother...a widow who lived forty-two years without a man...and raised five ornery children!! Blessed is she among women!!
In the past few months, the Lord has been reiterating a lesson that I should have learned...and was taught many years ago. That lesson is to not put any expectations upon anyone or anything! When we expect others to act a certain way or do certain things for us...when we expect for all of our circumstances to work out the way that we want them to, we will always be disappointed! On the other hand, if we expect nothing from them, we will not be hurt, disappointed, or have quarrels!
James says, "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this...that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and you cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel!" (James 4:1-2)
Recently, I found myself having a huge pity-party when I was hurt by something that someone said. I found myself thinking, "How can that person be so rude and disrespectful?" The Lord immediately brought conviction to my heart that this was to be a joyful day...for you see, it was Christmas Day! The day of our Lord's birth! I was convicted as I remembered how Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and came into this world that we might have life...abundant life and eternal life with Him! Though He came to this earth to offer us everlasting love, mercy, and grace...that we did not deserve..He suffered ridicule, rejection, and an excruciatingly painful death on a cross!
Why should I...a mere human being and a selfish, self-centered sinner expect to be treated differently? Why should I bemoan my circumstances and feel sorry for myself...or even consider my lot to be suffering??
Especially when I have many dear friends who are currently experiencing true suffering!
God forgive me...and remind me once again that James says, "Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
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