"We always thank God for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 1:3
It's the day after Thanksgiving and my family is traveling home. It was wonderful to have them here and for everyone to be together again.
Well, most of the time.
One thing about family get togethers -- it seems like someone always has to be difficult.
What one person finds funny as just "giving you a hard time" can ruin your mood. Especially when you've gone out of your way to make the holiday wonderful, to prepare a free guest room, to buy all the food, and to cook ALL the favorites (even the ones you don't particularly like).
Yeah, I made TWO traditional dishes that the rest of us don't care about so that one person wouldn't give me a hard time. I didn't want to hear it.
Did it matter? No. They gave me a hard time about breakfast instead. The breakfast casserole and croissants I provided that didn't meet their "special request" of eggs over easy with biscuits and gravy.
Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.
It really gets my goat.
So today I'm praying for love, grace, and relief from resentment.
I looked up this week's Bible study in Colossians and found the perfect verse for this situation.
"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Colossians 1:9-10
Now, my first reaction to this verse was to pray for the difficult person to act better. But guess what, God's talking to me.
Jesus called me to be a servant.
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ranson for many." Matthew 20:28
Don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing ungrateful, entitled behavior. I am saying that Jesus called me to serve and to do so joyfully.
So while praying for my family member to realize their behavior isn't funny, I'm also praying for ME to increase in wisdom and understanding, honor and knowledge and fruit that are pleasing to the Lord. I'm not responsible for others' behavior, but I AM responsible for my response.
Just typing that eases my resentment.
Praise God and thanks to Him for all His blessings. Even those who get my goat and force me to work on me.
During the coming holidays, may this be my prayer:
Lord, help me grow as I learn to know You better and better. Amen.
Now it's time to get ready for Christmas! Holiday Cheer, Christmas movies & music, cookies & crafts, decorating & baking, shopping & wrapping! Woo hoo!
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and this Christmas season brings you abundant blessings!
Love,
Dianne
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