It was a weeknend, we were pretty tired, definitely it could be the hangover of the week. As one child started coughing badly and another kept on rushing to the rest room in an attempt to ease his upset stomach, the Mommy in me began to get restless. At one point both the rest rooms being occupied, had to compel this little child to throw up right at the living room and that meant we had to keep the littlest one away to clean up the mess. Just as that was being done, the little one had soiled his pants and he had to be rushed to the restroom to be cleaned and one of them who was at the table having his food, looking at me from a distance, called out, “Mumma, I have been waiting for one more serving since quite sometime”. The flesh in me took over and spoke harsh words to the child and left the room having to do other things yet still speaking words not profitable and not peaceful by any means. Yes, I fell. With the best of me, best of my desire to keep the weekend cheerful, I had fallen. After a while, returning to the kitchen, I expressed how sad it was that I got angry on the child to which my husband replied, “you were not angry dear, I know you have lots on your plate. How can I help you?” 

I left the scene, weeping, feeling overwhelmed by the Love my Heavenly Father had for me that He saw without doubt my broken heart and fixed it, embalmed it with His comforting words. I also thanked God for my husband who did not condemn me or point his fingers at me, rather stretched out his hands and helped me rise up. 

It was then as if I had heard a soft voice within me that said this is your Heavenly Father who is always there with you trying to help you, heal you, correct you and give you a purpose to live. Things began to look different. I began to live with the acknowledgement of God’s grace with me. God is not dead, He is alive!! He is living with me. He is speaking to me. He is comforting me. He is using His instruments at times to fulfill His goodwill in me.

As part of a very beautiful and loving fellowship, how often I feel that I am so dry with God, yet still rich with people!! In the flesh, I are very quick to reason out with God for the misfortune I have in my life yet for the good I have received I am even more quick to shake a hand rather than lift it to God in thanksgiving.

To this the question arise – How is my relationship with God, the One Who calls Himself our Father!! In this finite tangible world, we often seem to simply ignore or take lightly the goodness and love of our Heavenly Father, whom our finite eyes cannot see! I myself have always sought to honour people. It is because I have received much help and favour from people around me. And I run and seek to call them up and express my gratitude constantly. Yet I was just wondering how my attitide towards God has been, all this while!! 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God ( in everything, every circumstances) and so when we receive mercy, love, care from ‘tangible’ people around us – our spouse , children, relatives, church family, have we learnt to first acknowledge the Source of all good? Have we ever acknowledged that it is our Heavenly Who has put it in the ‘heart’ of this child of His to help me out from this situation!!

A heart of gratitude towards a person is good, it’s very good yet why do we stop there!! We see Jesus continually praising and giving acknowledging the Father for all the good He had been doing. At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Mathew 11:25

The moment we begin to acknowledge the goodness and hand of God in our lives and in the lives of people around us, we would be careful not to compare one brother from another or a sister from another. “This sister, she always gets my favorite dish”. “She is always available to seek advice from”. “She really cares to check on me frequently”. On the other hand, we can still be able to sing praises to God and not get bitter when someone speaks hard words to us because like David and Joseph we will know that even the bad happening to me is something my Heavenly Father has allowed in His abundant wisdom and grace. Jesus having known the person who was going to betray him, did not expose him or humiliate him. Jesus called him friend. It was a ‘cup’ of suffering that was allowed by the Father. 

So be it a cup of suffering (a valley experience) or a feast (a mountain experience) both are in perfect control of our Heavenly Father. 

Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills, but He is not a god of the valleys,” I will give this great army into your hand, and you shall know [by experience] that I am the LORD.’ ” 1 Kings 20:28

Having to live with this attitude in life, we will live a life of freedom. We will be free from the desire to expect anything from a person to whom we had ever shown favour because we will realize that it was the Lord Who made us show kindness to this person. Our kind gestures towards others will not elevate us and make us benefactors yet will keep us as mere intruments in His hand to be used anytime and as He pleases. 

We will learn not to admire others but to simply love them. We will be free to pass on the acts of kindness to as many people as the Lord brings to our lives and we will not be obliged to return back favour for favour. 

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Mathew 5:46-47

May the Lord help us live in freedom in Christ Jesus!!

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