Offended by a 3 Year Old

Don’t you just love being offended by a three year old?  

“Do whatever it takes Lord, for You to get my attention, even if the vessel is less than 40” tall.”  

I have this thing that I battle daily, in the Bible it’s called a “sin nature” and sometimes this sin nature makes me think that the earth and all that is in it should bend to me, my wishes and how dare I be inconvenienced.  Granted that sounds a little extreme but my continuous battle with sin disgusts me.

Maybe I’m the only one but there are days that I may be running late for work and I have a tire blow out on me.  Or I get in the car after my husband and there is not enough gas left in the car to safely get to the gas station.  There have been times that my air conditioning - even though it works just fine when it’s mild outside – it decides to quit working as soon as the temperature outside peaks over 95.  There are times that (now let me know if you’re following me here) the CSM decides to take her own time making her way back to register 23 at the local Wal-Mart and cranky children are late getting to bed for their nap.  Of course there are some days that we handle these challenges better than others but then again this list can become a perfect storm for us to lay aside Christ in me and pick back up our self-righteousness.  

There’s a song that I used to sing as a child.  It comes from Psalm 118:24, and it says:

This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Isn’t it a lot easier for us at times reciting scripture, than it is for us to believe it or to put it into practice? 

No matter what my circumstances – God is good!  When I am focused on me I lose sight of God.  When I lose sight of God I become unaware of opportunities He may be placing in front of me to share the gospel. 

Did you recognize that in every one of these scenarios you are forced to interact with people you wouldn’t have time to speak with otherwise?  Yesterday, I spent literally 30mins waiting for a CSM at Wal-Mart and I was only buying one simple item.  Instead of praying over the situation, striking up a conversation with the cashier, asking her about her day, her life or how I could pray for her.  I spent my time trying to distract myself with my cellphone because I was blown away by the silliness of the situation.  I was so busy trying to conceal my frustration that I missed my opportunity.

Psalm 118:24 is my 3yr old niece Makynzie’s favorite verse.  She recites it all the time, especially when she hears someone complain about the day her Jesus has made.  I am ashamed to say that it wasn’t until I was lying in bed last night and I was giggling to myself over my nieces cuteness that all of the missed opportunities of my day flooded me.  All because of a lingering, rotten, self-entitled attitude. My friends I missed so many opportunities to share the gospel yesterday and it was all because I neglected to cherish the words of this verse:

Dear Friend,
“This is the day that the Lord has made. 
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

About Melissa

Melissa Bradley is married with two small children.  She serves at a church plant in Hendersonville, NC. The passion of her heart is to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at Beautiful Mommy Feet, she and her husbands personal ministry page, a women’s ministry page -Radiance and on Facebook.

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