How do you respond?
Yesterday I was at work and was prepping for some interviews when I got a call from my wife.
She said, "I can't find my wallet anywhere. Did you put it somewhere when you emptied out the groceries? Is it still in your car?"
I had about 45 minutes or so before the first interview started and I had a choice to make at this point. Would I respond lovingly? Would I choose to help? Would I figure out a way to solve her dilemma? Sure it's inconvenient and I wasn't planning on it, but how was I gonna respond?
Well, I said I'd go look in the trunk of the car and then call her back. So, I checked the trunk and found her wallet in there. So, I gave her a call and found out she needed to get gas in her car and was heading to a friend so she really needed her wallet. And I still had time to be able to meet her and get her wallet and still get back to work for the interview, so I said I can help.
Notice there's no blame in any of this? There's no shame. She didn't leave it in my car on purpose. I didn't realize it was there. I could have said, "Why don't you just carry a purse? Or, why don't you just put your wallet in the same place?" I could have blamed her... but what good would that do? I'm sure she already felt bad.
I can't say I always will or would respond in a loving way. But, yesterday God gave me the ability to extend grace to my wife. I need grace. We all need grace.
Lastly, I noticed that the day just in general was sweeter with my wife because of it. Our evening was good. She texted me and gave me a heads up of what we needed to do that evening. We communicated and that always helps me.
So when something unexpected comes up, something that you could respond in a way that's unloving because you believe, "you're in the right". How will you respond?
She said, "I can't find my wallet anywhere. Did you put it somewhere when you emptied out the groceries? Is it still in your car?"
I had about 45 minutes or so before the first interview started and I had a choice to make at this point. Would I respond lovingly? Would I choose to help? Would I figure out a way to solve her dilemma? Sure it's inconvenient and I wasn't planning on it, but how was I gonna respond?
Well, I said I'd go look in the trunk of the car and then call her back. So, I checked the trunk and found her wallet in there. So, I gave her a call and found out she needed to get gas in her car and was heading to a friend so she really needed her wallet. And I still had time to be able to meet her and get her wallet and still get back to work for the interview, so I said I can help.
Notice there's no blame in any of this? There's no shame. She didn't leave it in my car on purpose. I didn't realize it was there. I could have said, "Why don't you just carry a purse? Or, why don't you just put your wallet in the same place?" I could have blamed her... but what good would that do? I'm sure she already felt bad.
I can't say I always will or would respond in a loving way. But, yesterday God gave me the ability to extend grace to my wife. I need grace. We all need grace.
Lastly, I noticed that the day just in general was sweeter with my wife because of it. Our evening was good. She texted me and gave me a heads up of what we needed to do that evening. We communicated and that always helps me.
So when something unexpected comes up, something that you could respond in a way that's unloving because you believe, "you're in the right". How will you respond?