Light On The Path

Like a bull in a china shop she bumbled around trying to get her footing. Different thoughts and emotions wrestled in her mind. 

“Yay! A new beginning! New people to befriend!" Then she thought, “I can share all the Lord has shown me!” Her smile widened as she thought “I will find a new friend.” It was that last thought that took root immediately. She prayerfully asked "who will it be?”

But she rushed headlong into the crowd trying too hard. Invisible walls started to come up. BAM- she ran into the first one. BOOM - she hit the next. After that she withdrew, hurt and afraid.

She spent the night praying. In the morning she heard, “Ease back my child. I’ll show the way and I know your heart’s desire.” She looked around and saw some of the damage she had done. Dutifully she obeyed and backed off.

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."  Luke 6:36

She read this verse at a time when the waiting had started to simmer into hurt and then into a little anger. “Why must it be me, Lord?”  Silence was the answer. Grudgingly she acquiesced. “Okay Lord, Your way not mine – I get that.”

She found solace in the Bible and through His word understanding came. Kindness/mercy is given in LOVE. It is free of strings or conditions - the giver must die to hurts and slights. It cannot have an agenda, because then it would be self-serving. It must be free of expectations, fear of rejection or preconceived notions. Mercy must be looked at in the eternal, just as Jesus Christ has mercy on us. 

"The LORD is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Psalm 103:8

She whispered this verse as a prayer asking, “My Savior and Lord change my heart to reflect You. Help me to stop barging into situations and people. Gentle my heart.”

“Baby steps, Daughter,” came the response, “allow them the chance to get to know you.”  Life’s lessons are sometimes hard taught. She is learning one step at a time to allow God's Light to illuminate the way.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105

Are any of you like me, that "bull in a china shop"? We want to love others and share Jesus and sometimes we power our way into things, bowling over everything or anyone in the way of our exuberance. Learning to tone that down is hard – getting people to understand is harder still – but God has use for people like us. Remember Peter?

One quality of the Love which is mentioned as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is gentleness. That is one which God will work out in our lives. Allow Him to do it. I can’t tell you that it won’t hurt because sometimes it does, but the end result is worth it.

by Eve Montano