So I woke up in the middle of the night last night with this on my mind. Nothing in particular has happened lately in regards to this, so I’m not really sure why it was there, except for God put it there. I’m sure we have all had some type of experience with this at some point in our lives, so let’s dive right on in the this one.
I have children. I have two……special……boys. The oldest is a loner, but getting older, and that, “I think I know more than you attitude” is starting to occur more and more than I’d like. The younger is an emotional wreck most of the time. The smallest thing like, “Do you have your goggles for the pool,” on any given day, can set him off to where you think the world is about to end. For the most part they both listen and do what they are asked, but there are times when no matter how hard we plead…..things just don’t get done. Why is it that they just can’t do what I want them to do?
That’s just a simple example of what this is all about. But what happens when sometimes things happen that can cause pain, grief, discomfort? Sometimes you want someone to thank you for a gift you sent them, and they don’t. Sometimes you want someone to ask you how your day was, after a bad day, just to show they care……and they don’t. (I’m sorry honey, I know I am personally guilty of this one.) Sometimes you want them to be as excited about something that you are excited in, to join you in your dreams and move as fast as you are moving right now. And sometimes you just want someone to tell you that they love you……but once again, they don’t.
We can’t make others do things that they don’t want to do. We can’t place our hopes, dreams, and expectations on others. I have learned this more than once in the past year, in regards to the dreams I have for my life. One of the most important life lessons I have learned is that we have to love people where they are.
I think that is why our relationship with God is as amazing as it is. The whole premise is based on free will. We all know the story of Adam and Eve, and how they could have had it all, but Chose to disobey God’s one and only rule. Ever since, it has been on us to choose whether to follow God or not. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says, “I call heaven and Earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
So if Adam and Eve can’t even follow God’s one rule, then how can we expect everyone that we want to do something, no matter how big or small, to do it……just because we want them to. People do what people do. It’s not always intentionally to hurt, even though sometimes that may be the result of their actions. Sometimes we are just too dumb to know better.
So here’s an idea, and it may be a difficult concept for our minds to wrap around, but how about instead of getting mad or upset because people aren’t acting the way we want them to and doing the things we want them to do…..instead we focus more on what we can do to serve them. Paul, whom I’m learning more and more everyday was a pretty amazing guy, in his farewell to Ephesus said, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of’ the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).” And how could I write about the way people treat each other than to not mention the most famous verse of all when we speak of serving others, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in one statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
So the next time you start to think, “Why won’t this person just do what I want them to do? It’s only for their own good,” maybe take a breath, look at the situation and realize it may not be about you. They may have perfectly good intentions for the way they are behaving, and maybe, just maybe, you are placing your purpose, your dreams in them. Love them where they are at. Pray for them. Pray,yourself, for Guidance. And better yet, figure out a way that you can serve them instead of always thinking about what they can do for you.
Tetelestai 