Thursday, October 05, 2006

Grace should make you gracious

I was getting ready to do a blog post yesterday when my doorbell rang. I peeked outside and saw a young lady who has been attending our church lately. I cringed, because I really didn't feel like talking to anyone. I let her in and she sat down and started talking. For almost 3 (three) hours. I sat there cringing on the inside, trying to make spiritual conversation on the outside. I am sure it was not too spiritual, given my attitude, but she seemed to appreciate the time spent with her.
I forced myself to realize that this is what God would have me to do. So I did it. What I should have done is to have changed my attitude. Grace should have made me more gracious. Understanding God's grace should make us more gracious towards others even though they cut into your blogging time!

5 comments:

Kristi said...

I'm so glad that I am not the only one who has ever felt that way. To be honest, I don't have to be out and about to be happy. I am so content to be in my home with my family and to me it's simply wonderful. Sometimes when I see someone pull in the driveway, I cringe too. But the Lord always convicts me of it. And your post is a good reminder to always be gracious. God sends people to us for a reason. How can we see His purpose with sour attitudes! :)

Thanks for this post. It was a blessing AND an encouragement.

~Kristi

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I get this way as well. Not too many people come by to see me but they call me. And there are some that call me that I (unfortunately) have the same attitude as you had. They might be interrupting my posting on my site, or a movie that I sat down to watch (even though the dvd player has a pause button) or my cooking supper, etc. You are right....God wants us to be available to others to offer encouragement or just to listen when they want to talk. We need to be more gracious about those interruptions and just let God use us at those times. Thanks for this post.

Dawn said...

Thanks for the good reminder. Thanks also for stopping by the memorial to my FIL. It has been quite a week. I am trying to catch up now, and have missed many good posts. Have a blessed week-end.

Anonymous said...

I sometimes have the same attitude and I get rather cross with myself afterwards because I remember how our Lord Jesus comforted, healed, listened, advised constantly without complaining and yet I only have to see someone in the street who I know is going to 'chew my ear off' and I cross the road pretending I didn't see them....lol, this is why I need to really work at my hospitality prayerfully, otherwise I'll only invite my friends round and defeat the object of the lesson.

Cherish the Home said...

Whew..I'm the same way! I really need to work on this. Really I just need to die to *self* and be more giving to others. (o: