I am constantly amazed by the lessons I learn in the most unexpected places.
Yesterday was our day to serve at BH (aka Blessed Hope for almost everyone else).
We had a beautiful young woman who was a little aggressive and maybe a little hangry. To be honest, I am not sure of her mental state. I don't say this to be at all funny, it's just the truth.
A lot of times I ignore aggressiveness when I'm serving people because I understand the gravity that comes from desperation when you don't eat on the regular. The truth is that I eat on the regular and I'm crabby sometimes.
Yesterday, this one particular woman, had me outside my comfort zone. I tend to be a "knock it off" or "don't do that" in some weird mom voice. I recruited the strongest woman I know and she defused the situation.
A little while later, the woman came and apologized for what she said and her behavior. I accepted her apology. Because there was no reason not to. We all have bad days (ok I do!), we all say things we don't mean, or mean them when we say them and regret it (ok, maybe this is just me!). She seemed a little surprised.
It got me to thinking about how when I don't extend grace and forgiveness, really I am the one I hurt. If I don't look past the worst parts of someone, I am no different than the world.
I see God's redeeming grace and love all around me. Sometimes I choose to see it and sometimes I look past it (that's dumb!).
Some people say to me "they are so luck you serve". No, I'm the one who gets the blessings. I never stop learning, I never stop growing, I never stop loving. It's a gift, a very generous gift given to me by God, to serve Him.
Yesterday was our day to serve at BH (aka Blessed Hope for almost everyone else).
We had a beautiful young woman who was a little aggressive and maybe a little hangry. To be honest, I am not sure of her mental state. I don't say this to be at all funny, it's just the truth.
A lot of times I ignore aggressiveness when I'm serving people because I understand the gravity that comes from desperation when you don't eat on the regular. The truth is that I eat on the regular and I'm crabby sometimes.
Yesterday, this one particular woman, had me outside my comfort zone. I tend to be a "knock it off" or "don't do that" in some weird mom voice. I recruited the strongest woman I know and she defused the situation.
A little while later, the woman came and apologized for what she said and her behavior. I accepted her apology. Because there was no reason not to. We all have bad days (ok I do!), we all say things we don't mean, or mean them when we say them and regret it (ok, maybe this is just me!). She seemed a little surprised.
It got me to thinking about how when I don't extend grace and forgiveness, really I am the one I hurt. If I don't look past the worst parts of someone, I am no different than the world.
I see God's redeeming grace and love all around me. Sometimes I choose to see it and sometimes I look past it (that's dumb!).
Some people say to me "they are so luck you serve". No, I'm the one who gets the blessings. I never stop learning, I never stop growing, I never stop loving. It's a gift, a very generous gift given to me by God, to serve Him.
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