Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year, especially in my family. We have a few "traditions", one being that we always try to make a trip to see Christmas lights.
I'll be honest- it's not my favorite. Sorry Mom. I just don't get the hype of driving through a street where the electric bill has to be through the roof. Its almost depressing, when you think about it. But hey, to each their own- It just isn't my cup of tea. Nonetheless, I go because I do still enjoy spending time with my family, and we usually have a great time.
Except for that one year.
Years ago, my mom, grandma, aunts, and I decided that we would go to Downtown Huntsville, Alabama to see the "Tinsel Trail". For those of you who aren't familiar, organizations rent a spot to decorate a Christmas tree. It's free to the public, and we love free around here.
Upon first glance you would think it was an amazing idea. Well, what I haven't mentioned is that we went before dinner and it was freezing cold.
This day has forever been known as the day my family found out that I am a hangry woman. I was the worst company. We went through the trail, I whined and complained the whole time, and they finally brought me back to my mom's van.
Then we went to McDonald's. My saving grace.
All it took was a 10 count nugget and some ranch to get me in a better mood.
I say all this to stress the fact that I have always been someone who is easily irritable. Thankfully, it's something I can at least be more self-aware about now. That doesn't mean keeping my attitude in the right place is easy.
I have often allowed my attitude dictate my actions.
I can think of many times where my beautiful mother called or sat down with me to have a conversation, and by the end of it I had disrespected her or blown up on her. This wasn't due to something she had done, but it was due to the fact that I had not spent time dealing with how I felt.
I hadn't gone to the Lord in prayer or mediated on the amazing things the Lord had provided me with. I lacked gratitude and thankfulness.
If we lack gratitude, I ensure you that you will find yourself lacking kindness towards yourself and toward others.
How do we be kind and grateful in a world that wants us to do the opposite?
Last night I was reminded of a well-known Bible story surrounding the journeys of Paul and Silas.
In Acts 16 we see Paul and Silas journeying to a place of prayer when they were met by a woman who was filled with a spirit that helped her predict the future. She was a slave, and this spirit inside of her helped her earn tons of money for her owners.
This spirit filled lady followed Paul and the rest around shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved". And whereas this sound great, obviously something was off, because in the next verse we see that Paul is annoyed.
The Scripture doesn't give us many details into what was so annoying about her actions, but we can assume it was either in a mocking town or her shouting was so disturbing that it prevented people from approaching Paul and the rest. Either way, seeing as she was filled with an evil spirit, we know it couldn't have been pleasant. Just as I stated, the next verse shows that Paul was so annoyed that he cast the demon out.
I love so many things about this Scripture, but there are two things that stick out to me:
1) We see Paul, a devout servant of Christ, gets annoyed. Prophets, missionaries, disciples- they were human. They got annoyed, irritated, frustrated, etc. They weren't immune to it, just like we aren't.
But even being human, we have a choice in how we respond. This leads me to the second thing I loved about this Scripture.
2) In his annoyance, Paul doesn't blow up on her. He doesn't throw a hissy fit and run away. It doesn't state that he complained to Silas about her. He turns and casts the demon out in the name of Jesus.
What a testimony.
Just these few verses alone can easily convict me in how I negatively respond to myself and others when I'm annoyed.
As we continue reading through this text, we see her masters are upset that Paul has done this, as they can now no longer make a prophet on her fortune telling. So, they responded by seizing Paul and Silas and bringing them to the authorities in the market place. They then proceeded to twist their actions and lie to the magistrates. They were then ordered to be stripped of their clothing and flogged, and afterwards they were thrown into prison where their feet were fastened by stocks.
They were treated so poorly and with so much unkindness, much more than most of us will ever endure. Yet, they again are met with a choice to react.
Instead of having a bad attitude and crying our in anger or pain, they praised God. And it gets even better!
Many of us know the story- but as Paul and Silas praised the Lord through prayer and song, there was an earthquake. This earthquake caused the foundation of the jail to shake and all the prison doors were opened and the prisoners were freed from their shackles.
I don't know about you, but I would be sprinting to get out of that prison. And that's saying something- I hate running.
But once again, Paul and Silas react with kindness, knowing that the guards that were set to watch them would surely be put to death if they all disappeared.
In fact, as the soldier realized that all the doors had been open, he drew his sword to kill himself, but Paul cried out to inform him that no one had left.
This act of kindness drew the soldier to fall before them to ask how to be saved.
Though Paul and Silas were treated with act after act of unkindness, they continually responded with grace and love, extended kindness to those that hurt them most.
Through extending continual kindness, even when it was so hard, they were met with an opportunity to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to a guard and his family.
I wonder how many times we have turned away an opportunity to share the gospel or be more Christ-like all because of a bad attitude and unkindness towards others?
I present you with this question because I feel confident that I have missed so many opportunities to share God's love because I couldn't get my act together.
I have been reminded in so many ways that my attitude effects my ministry. I can't roll my eyes when I want, I can't tell someone off because they've annoyed me- that's not how Christ calls us to act.
Instead we are to combat bad attitude with kindness. The best way to act with kindness is to stay dwelling in the word with the grateful heart.
This is a journey and it will prompt a lot of growth, but I promise its one worth taking.
Will you take a journey towards kindness with me?
Songs for reflection, prayer, and singing:
Less Like Me - Zach Williams
Your Will Be Done - CityAlight
I Speak Jesus - Charity Gayle
Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb - People & Songs
Jesus Strong and Kind - CityAlight
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