Thursday, November 18, 2004
Looking outside of the box
My stepmom sent me this, and I think it captures a whole lot of what we ought to be doing.
________
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic
last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home
to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious
moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who
can't make change correctly 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 us, 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 we
can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember 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.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the
greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold
dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all
humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and
love.
Amen.
My stepmom sent me this, and I think it captures a whole lot of what we ought to be doing.
________
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic
last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home
to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious
moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who
can't make change correctly 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 us, 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 we
can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember 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.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the
greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold
dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all
humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and
love.
Amen.
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