Tripping Over Typeset

Do you ever feel exhausted by our world today?  I do.

I’ve got my schedule down to shopping/errand running one day a week.  That one day is now more tiring than any other day in my week.

It’s exhausting out there!

People’s attitudes and bombardment of judgement is torrential.  And I admit I am guilty of throwing attitude as well.  Especially when the inconsistencies and reasoning behind some actions is not quite up to the level of basic critical thinking skills.  There are times I’m shaking my head and repeating to myself, “You’re killing me, Smalls!” 

It’s been cloudy and raining off and on for the last couple of days here. We’ve gotten some pretty good downpours and I have been caught in a few of them with no umbrella.  I saw the rain coming but thought I could get under shelter before the downpour came… but I didn’t.

That got me thinking…  There is a torrent of people’s attitudes and opinions coming down everywhere. There’s a social media stance of battering, name calling and all out assault toward complete strangers.  It’s amazing to me how people comment and smack talk mean, rude and belligerent words towards people they’ve never even met.  I’m shaking my head!

And this is what I came to today in my reflection time:

I have been, for too long, allowing the torrent and storm of divisive sides, opinions and annoyances get the better of me.

Lord, help me not stay in the torrent of this battering atmosphere. Instead, in this onslaught, let me stand under the umbrella of Your grace. Inviting others in… out of the downpour.  May I be one who offers grace, encouragement and a sheltered place to find retreat from the storm of adversity, frustration and constant battering.

Luke 6:45 reads, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

If my heart is full of frustration, anger and annoyance, that will pour out of my mouth.  And that’s not pretty, folks.

I get it… we’re frustrated and annoyed on many sides and by many things.

But we can’t let our frustrations override our ability to live in grace towards others.

And yes, I’m talking to myself here!

What are you all doing to live in grace right now?

Me?  Here’s some things I’m doing:

• Limiting time on social media.
• Unfollowing people who are over-the-top.
• Snoozing friends for 30 days. If after that we’re in a better place, great. If not, I’ll hit snooze again.
• Intentionally looking for good. Focusing on God’s goodness and looking for good in others.
• Speaking three positives before allowing myself to say a negative. (The struggle is real!) 
• Following my mama’s words of: “If you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all.”

I’m a work in progress. We all are.

So, Lord, let my heart be filled with love, kindness and joy.  May my mouth speak from those places. Help me not get caught in the downpour of the negative but instead hold the umbrella of grace and invite others in from the torrential downpour all around. ~ Amen.

Praying you all have a grace filled week!

~Rachel