I love it when Neil gets personal. He waited until November to share this story, and it was worth the wait.
While I’m caught by the idea of God stepping in to keep Neil
from going down the wrong path, what I’m focusing on today is this idea of
seeing people as people.
Sure, it seems pretty basic, but it’s a problem we all share… Why did I treat my husband unkindly? Because what I wanted to accomplish at that
moment was more important to me than he was, flesh and blood, standing right in
front of me. I had a wrong goal.
Years ago, I was a schoolteacher. I look back on those days fondly, but with
the distinct memory that the actual minutes of the day spent educating young
minds was only a portion of what’s involved in being a teacher. Factor in things like discipline problems,
learning disabilities, communicating with parents, planning big events,
fulfilling staff obligations (sure, I’ll chair that district Speech Meet!), maintaining
your continuing education units, etc., and it’s not hard to see why so many
teachers burn out. It sure was true for
me.
It was at a children’s ministries conference that I heard a
speaker talking about her job as a principal.
She was confiding to a colleague, Wow – I could get so much more done in
my job if it wasn’t for all these difficult parents I have to deal with! The friend replied, That’s just it – they ARE
the job.
What a turning point for her, and for me, when I heard
it. Today, I’m going to be asking God to
show me where I am choosing task over relationship. I know I’m guilty of seeing people as
blocking my goal; I want to learn to set aside what I had in mind so I can love
my friends and family (and anyone God puts in my path) the way He does.
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