And the Lessons Continue ~ III

One would think that at 62 years of age, not every day would be a learning day,

but learning continues each day in my life...

...to continue how the Lord is working in my life...

I did something for someone this Christmas that I thought was wonderful

Boy was I wrong

First I was upset that they were upset 

and then someone very dear to me said

"Everyone _______ differently"

I know that but why get so upset?

BECAUSE 

"everyone _______ differently"

Neither way is right or wrong, IT just IS!

And that's what I had...

I wrote the person involved,

heard back from them,

life goes on and we learn, we all learn

Then in a group I belong to on Facebook

where an in~depth conversation was happening someone posted:

"Not everyone finds joy in the same things we do.  It doesn't mean they're ungrateful. 

It's only a few days after Christmas, maybe they are waiting a few days to use XXX ....

And I responded (in the middle of not understanding what/why XXX was happening)

duh...not everyone finds joy in the same thing,

not everyone likes everything in the same way,

what brought me joy, brought someone grief, 

insurmountable grief and pain

and then a big RIFF between us...

so not what I wanted or intended to happen

A hard but great lesson to learn,

even at 62 or should I say 

it's about time I learned and figured it out...

that we are all different 

and God made us that way...

how boring life would be if we were all the same...

One of my goals for the past few months and really becoming one of the things I am focusing on is being open and available to hearing the Lord speak to me...

...this morning He got my attention during the worship service and sermon at church this morning at New Life Baptist Church.  Usually we make our kiddos sit with us but I'm trying to say YES more than NO and since I really didn't have a good reason to say no I let our two oldest sit where they asked...AZ wanted to sit w/Ms T and AR wanted to sit on the first row with Brother Adam (the pastor).  I told them if I had to walk up to them during the service they would not get their tablets for one week!!!!  Yes the new tablets they got for Christmas and yes, something they have both been on a lot the past few days...I know restrictions/limits should be set BUT since today is our 20th straight day of working (combination of our choice & limited coverage) we are allowing lots of screen time this school break :).  They both said okay and off to their seats they went.  LB had to sit with us, she is too wiggly and too loud to sit with others and we let her go play in the nursery during the actual sermon time...because in her words...big people's church is no fun!!!

Now back to what I was learning...one of the scripture references was 

 & 

Ephesians 4: 25-29

25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work. Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Ephesians 4:25-29 The Message.

This really spoke to me and challenged me...I remember lying as a child to my mom, the last two times...once when I was 13 and a girl had called her a SL.. and I got angry and broke her elbow with my baton...my anger was rampant back then and it just happened instantly.  My mom didn't care that the girl called her a SL..but I sure did.  Anyway, my mom asked me how old I was and I smart mouthed back to her "7" well she hit me 7x and then asked again...I replied 13 and got hit 13 more times plus chili pepper put in my mouth...and then I lied to her Labor Day Weekend 1975 while I was getting ready for work...she asked me if Ron and I had talked marriage and I replied NO!!!  I was scared to death of her reaction to my wanting to get married because of how she had reacted when my older sister got married...

I do not like to be lied to or being called a liar.  And the verse continues to ...watch the way you talk...I used to swear as good as most sailors but the last 12 years I have made a true effort to not swear and especially now in our positions as house parents...I know I wasn't the best mom in the world when our boys were younger and I have had many conversations with them about the past and present and I am so thankful for the grace and forgiveness they have extended to me...but back to the sermon...I just felt like the Lord was telling me 

WHOA...give your kids the same grace and mercy I have shown you!!!

WHOA...give yourself the grace and mercy I have shown you!!!

And remember little eyes and ears are watching and listening ALL the TIME!!

Just like the Lord is watching all the time!!

Thank you Lord for this very real reminder that Your love is never ending and that no matter how I behave You give me a second, third and more chances than I can count!!!

And the Lord says yes to me and this is evident in how 

I am so blessed, blessed beyond measure.  

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