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You
know that person who drives you up the wall?
They do that thing that irks you no end. …
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…
Their presence unsettles you, and things they say cause you
to unravel immediately. Your blood reaches the boiling point
in a matter of seconds after some of their comments. Someone
else could do or say the same thing and you wouldn't be as bothered,
but with this person all your Christian graces seem to fly out
the window, and with them your peace of mind.
Okay, be honest. Don't you have
at least one person like that in your life, or haven't you had
at one time?—Your neighbor, your boss, your co-worker,
your mother-in-law, or possibly someone even closer?
It's humbling and heartbreaking
to admit that I have mine. I'm an idealist and want nothing
more than to be at peace with all mankind.
So what's it all about? Am I doomed
for life to not get along with this person, or is it a test
that allows me to learn something deeper about myself?
As I asked myself, "What's
the rub?" it dawned on me that I actually need this rubbing.
This person is like my "sandpaper." Whenever
he gives me a rub, he helps me see my shortcomings, my impatience,
my unloving side, my selfishness. He works on my rough spots,
and eventually that will bring out the shine.
It's not that he doesn't need
polishing too, but I'm convinced this sandpaper has been put
in my life to bring me to a deeper understanding of my real
self. My sandpaper highlights my weaknesses, and that gives
me opportunities to work on making them strong points.
Now I no longer look at this sandpaper
as my enemy. I've come to look at him as my monitor or gauge
to see how I'm doing and where I need the rub. I also realize
that if this person were to disappear from my life, God would
most likely come up with another sandpaper to teach me lessons
of love. Who doesn't need that?
I used to liken my sandpaper to
going to the dentist—I absolutely didn't want to go through
the ordeal! But now I'm happy for the polishing and buffing.
My sandpaper causes me to draw closer to Jesus, and He gets
me all shined up and filled with His love! |
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Glasses
like Grandma's
A
small boy was caught trying on his grandma's glasses and his
mother asked why. He said, "I want to wear glasses like
Grandma's, ‘cause she can see much more than other people.
"She can see when folks
are hungry and tired or sorry, and she can even see what'll
make them feel better. She can see how to
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If
you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
—Booker
T. Washington
The
heart has its reasons, which reason knows nothing of.
—Blas
Pascal
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fix
a lot of things so they're fun, and she can see what a fellow
meant to do, even if he didn't do it right. She can see when
a fellow is going to cry, and she can see how to get him smiling
again.
"I asked her one day how
she could see so good, and she said it was the way she learned
to look at things as she got older. So when I get older, I want
a pair of glasses just like Grandma's, so I can see as good
as that, too."
—Author
unknown |
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