In light of my last post about extending kindness beyond our normal comfort zone, I have definitely been challenged this November.
So this may sound repetitive but I felt it was important to share, so stick with me for a little bit and let me know if you can relate.
Do you ever have those times where you finally get to sit down and get some work finished? It's been piling up and there just hasn't been the time. There's maybe an hour or so in your day to just knock it out and check it off your list. You have time to do it in the next couple days but you don't want to wait too long, and you want to have some of your weekend work free. Then, the door opens and someone comes in to chit chat. They don't need something important they just came to say hi, and before you know it a few minutes goes by and they're still just talking about shoes and whether or not they should have insoles for their flat feet. They aren't sure if they should use Dr. Scholls or go generic and get something cheaper.
As you know how irritating this is because you're smiling and nodding while inside your head you're thinking, "PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE. I don't want to be mean but I procrastinated and I need to get this done so that I can have free time this weekend. This was my alone time, and you're interrupting to talk about your flat feet. I hate feet!"
Still nodding your head, fighting your flesh and then you remember...
People are more important.
People are more important than papers.
People are more important than emails, or math homework.
They are treasured by God just like you are and God wants you to listen.
As I've had similiar scenarios come up often these past few weeks I have often been reminded by that still small voice, that people are more important. Every time He reminds me of that I am able to relax, know that God will give me the grace to get that work done later, and I am able to listen to that persons heart which is really saying, "I don't care what you think about which insole I should use, I just need to know that someone will listen to me, talk to me, and put me first. I just need to know that someone cares about me."
And you know what happens when you listen to people?
Your ministry grows, and lives are changed. People have seen you care about them and put them first when you could have put yourself first. Your platform to share Christ with them has grown more than it would if you had turned them away.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves."
Matthew 7:12
So this may sound repetitive but I felt it was important to share, so stick with me for a little bit and let me know if you can relate.
Do you ever have those times where you finally get to sit down and get some work finished? It's been piling up and there just hasn't been the time. There's maybe an hour or so in your day to just knock it out and check it off your list. You have time to do it in the next couple days but you don't want to wait too long, and you want to have some of your weekend work free. Then, the door opens and someone comes in to chit chat. They don't need something important they just came to say hi, and before you know it a few minutes goes by and they're still just talking about shoes and whether or not they should have insoles for their flat feet. They aren't sure if they should use Dr. Scholls or go generic and get something cheaper.
As you know how irritating this is because you're smiling and nodding while inside your head you're thinking, "PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE. I don't want to be mean but I procrastinated and I need to get this done so that I can have free time this weekend. This was my alone time, and you're interrupting to talk about your flat feet. I hate feet!"
Still nodding your head, fighting your flesh and then you remember...
People are more important.
People are more important than papers.
People are more important than emails, or math homework.
They are treasured by God just like you are and God wants you to listen.
As I've had similiar scenarios come up often these past few weeks I have often been reminded by that still small voice, that people are more important. Every time He reminds me of that I am able to relax, know that God will give me the grace to get that work done later, and I am able to listen to that persons heart which is really saying, "I don't care what you think about which insole I should use, I just need to know that someone will listen to me, talk to me, and put me first. I just need to know that someone cares about me."
And you know what happens when you listen to people?
Your ministry grows, and lives are changed. People have seen you care about them and put them first when you could have put yourself first. Your platform to share Christ with them has grown more than it would if you had turned them away.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves."
Matthew 7:12
