Galatians 6:9-10 - Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we
do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (NIV)
A few years ago, I was having one of those days when I
was feeling very sorry for myself. Working full-time as an elementary teacher
was taking a lot out of me. After a long day, I'd start my second job caring for
my husband, son, father-in-law, and our home. On the twenty-five-minute drive
home from work, the daily "What's for dinner?" Question plagued me as I tried to
dream up a meal to meet their whims and needs, when all I really wanted to do
was to sit as still as a stone in a soundproof room for an hour.
I came home to all three, sitting in the living room
talking. They looked up and said "Hi" as I dropped my book bag and started in.
That day, I was not exactly serving "as unto the Lord". I probably banged those
pots around and slammed kitchen cupboard doors a little loudly. And when we all
sat down to eat, my father-in-law, who was very worried about his blood
pressure, remarked that the food was too salty. Now if he had said it to my
face, that would have been one thing, but he said it in his native language to
my husband. It was all I could do to sit there and not blow a gasket. They ate
the "salty food" and returned to the living room, leaving me there to clean up
the mess.
Doing the dishes, I started to sniff and cry out to
God. Why Lord? I love them, but why can't they see I'm working hard for them?
I'm tired. Why doesn't anyone ever say "thank you" around here?
At that moment, I reached up to the top shelf of the
cupboard to put away a bowl, and out fell a card. On it, it said, "Thank you,
thank you, thank you, thanks, thanks, thanks!" It was pink and red with hearts
on it, a typical Hallmark card. Nothing was written inside, and there was no
envelope. I had never seen it before and had no idea where it had come from. I
started to laugh and cry at the same time. The Lord heard me! He gave me exactly
what I needed. I changed my attitude to gratitude and thanked God for all that
these lovely men brought to me daily. Serving in the Lord's strength and for
Him, it could be done well. God is so good!
Prayer: Lord, please help us today to see others as
You see them, to be filled with gratitude for those that You've put in our
paths. Help us to serve them as we would You. Thank You for the love You freely
give! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Michele Debau
makrissak@hotmail.com
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
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