Heavenly Father,
Help =
me remember that the jerk who cut me off in traffic last night is a =
single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to =
cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious =
moments with her children.
Bring =
to my mind often that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who =
can’t make change correctly at McDonalds is a worried 19-year-old =
college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his =
fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. =
Remind me, Lord, that the scary looking bum, =
begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a =
job!) is a slave to addictions that I can only imagine in my worst =
nightmare.
Cause =
me to reflect that the old couple, walking annoyingly slow through the =
store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this =
moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, =
this will be the last year that they go shopping =
together.
Make me understand, Holy Spirit, that even though =
my neighbors and I have competing political signs in our yards, that a =
person’s assurance of heaven comes from Your Word by Your grace =
alone, not the empty promises of political hacks pandering for a =
vote.
Heavenly Father, remind me each day that, of all =
the gifts you give me, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to =
share that love with those I hold dear. Open my heart not just to those =
who are close to me, but to all humanity. Let me be slow in judgment and =
quick with forgiveness and patience and empathy and =
love.
Amen.
[copied and adapted]
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus Knows Me, This I =
Love!"