Friday, January 14

Dear Lord, forgive me

You know what it's like to make friends with the people around you, the people you see frequently when you're out and about. You know, the people who know that your family drinks a lot of milk and that your kid likes Legos and that your husband likes light starch in his shirts. You know what I mean, don't you?

For me, those people include Vicki at the dry cleaner's, Peter at the bank, Sly at the grocery store. . . and Charlene at Target.



It was Charlene who greeted me at the cash register yesterday. I was there to buy more plastic bins to organize all the holiday decorations in my attic. I was a little grumpy at having to do the organizational work (not my strong suit) and at how much the plastic bins cost. Still, I smiled at Charlene and asked how she was.

"I'm so happy today," she answered. "I know I only paid one dollar on the bus, but I got TWO passes. I don't know how it happened, but that'll save me a dollar on the way home. It's my lucky day!"

Dear God. There I was, grouchy at the prospect of needing to buy more plastic bins to hold my stuff. And there she was, cheerful at the prospect of getting a ride without having to pay another fare.

Forgive me, dear Lord. Forgive me.

". . . do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. . . ." (Romans 12:3)

**Joining Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading**

22 comments:

  1. Isn't it amazing to see the ways God chooses to teach us a lesson? I know I've had my fair share! Thanks for linking up with me, Richella, and thank you for the comment. My little one is still feeling really cruddy and runs away every time I try to give her some ginger ale. :s Hoping I can get a little break at some point this weekend.

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  2. Amen!!
    God is so good to gently guide us towards Him and away from ourselves. have a wonderful weekend

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  3. That certainly offers some perspective!

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  4. That really is amazing, isn't it?

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  5. Thank you for the needed reminder.
    :)

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  6. It is all about perspective, isn't it??
    We had it this fall when the neighbor at our "up north place"
    was telling us about the other neighbor that didn't have money to buy toilet paper... made me feel foolish about my worrying about the new curtains I was about to hang in our vacation place....
    & opened another opportunity for us to be Jesus to our neighbors...

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  7. I love how God teaches us his truths. I wish I was as graceful and loving as He is with my rowdy 6yo. Thanks for sharing this lesson with us! Have a blessed weekend!

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  8. There is always someone worse off...and we need to be sensitive. Thinking of others and not just ourselves and our issues.

    Thanks for the reminder.

    Have a great day!

    Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

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  9. Isn't God cool? I love that he shows us that we need an attitude adjustment in such a gentle way. It speaks volumes, doesn't it? God is so good and deserves praise in all things. Amen!

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  10. Richella you are so kind hearted and caring. We all adore you.

    Love the green bins! I'm all for oragnization. It makes for a happier life. :)

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  11. I am guilty of the same thing sometimes. Isn't it wonderful that God give us such gentle reminders? Carla

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  12. Hi Richella:

    I just read your post about your birthmark. It was empowering to me. I have a VERY similar birthmark on the entire back of my left arm. I have ALWAYS been self conscious about it. People ask me what happened frequently...I used to answer flippantly that I had been burned in a fire...but now I'm honest and tell them it's a birthmark. And then I have body image issues as well. I'm never happy with my weight. Even when I've been very thin, It's never been good enough for me. Two of my sister-in-laws told me that it was sinful to not be entirely happy with the gift that God has given me in having a body. I AM grateful for that gift...but that doesn't mean I necessarily like the way it looks. And I've felt guilty about that. Your post helped me to see the whole thing through a different set of eyes. THANK YOU.

    xoxo
    Wendy

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  13. that's so amazing... I was reading that verse yesterday :)

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  14. Thanks for that today.

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  15. WOW you are really that organized...I am impressed. Thanks for your sweet comment...I wish someone was around that helped me out, so I am happy to do this for others, it is a lot of fun for me too!

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  16. oh my... a lesson to all of us. wow. thank you for sharing this...

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  17. I needed to read this today. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Wow. So convicting. Our pastor once admonished us to see "the invisible ones"...the Charlenes...and ask them how they are. Ask them how you can pray for them. See them as a person Christ died for. When I'm not so caught up in getting. out. of. Walmart, I stop and think about the person in line in front of me, or the checker, or the greeter. More often than not, I don't do that. Thank you, Richella, for the reminder to stop the inward thoughts and think about "the invisible" people around me.

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  19. Wow.
    A checkout aisle lesson.
    Those are the best.
    Thank you for the reminder that not only are we really blessed, we ought to be content.
    Thank you, Richella, for taking us with you to the store.
    :)

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  20. Wow.
    A checkout aisle lesson.
    Those are the best.
    Thank you for the reminder that not only are we really blessed, we ought to be content.
    Thank you, Richella, for taking us with you to the store.
    :)

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  21. See RIchella, this is exactly what I was talking about when I emailed you a few weeks ago.

    Every time you post something, it touches me, teaches me, reminds me.

    THAT is why I love you!

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  22. yep, YOU touched me....just the same way.
    thanks!
    suzanne

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