Friday night, my
family attended a holiday performance downtown. As we waited in a dense mob for
the usher to take our tickets and seat us, a woman nearby lost her patience--and
by "patience," I mean "mind." She unleashed a string of
profanity so shockingly graphic that I clapped my hands over my youngest
daughter's ears. Then, the impatient lady threatened to shove an elderly woman
out of her way.
"Yikes! 'Tis the season, I guess," I thought sarcastically as we all finally made our way into the theater.
Unfortunately, the stress, pressure and complicated emotions of the Christmas season often bring out the worst in people. Thankfully, this Sunday we learned some skills to help navigate our encounters with the dishonest, demanding, deadly and defensive "Christmas Crazies" as exemplified in Matthew 2:1-16 with the craziest of them all - King Herod.
First, it's crucial to realize that it's impossible to get along with everybody. And if you are wronged, refuse to give into a payback mentality.
What stood out the most to me, however, was that we are to respond with love and concern in these situations. God loves them. God loves you. But He doesn't love you any more than He loves them (or anyone else).
Ouch.
I guess I know that in my head. But how hard is it to fully wrap my mind around the fact that the one (hypothetical) person I can barely stand to be in the same room with, Jesus loves just as much as He loves me? And as much as He wants me to walk in His purpose and blessing - that's what He wants for him/her, too.
Whatever reasons brought that woman at the theater Friday night to such a deep level of anger, Jesus knows. And He loves her and wants to heal her of those hurts and transform her into His likeness.
Because I am His, I need to learn to respond like Him--with love and concern. Not just because that will help me get beyond the craziness of the holidays, but because this is the second greatest commandment and my Jesus knows best.
"Yikes! 'Tis the season, I guess," I thought sarcastically as we all finally made our way into the theater.
Unfortunately, the stress, pressure and complicated emotions of the Christmas season often bring out the worst in people. Thankfully, this Sunday we learned some skills to help navigate our encounters with the dishonest, demanding, deadly and defensive "Christmas Crazies" as exemplified in Matthew 2:1-16 with the craziest of them all - King Herod.
First, it's crucial to realize that it's impossible to get along with everybody. And if you are wronged, refuse to give into a payback mentality.
What stood out the most to me, however, was that we are to respond with love and concern in these situations. God loves them. God loves you. But He doesn't love you any more than He loves them (or anyone else).
Ouch.
I guess I know that in my head. But how hard is it to fully wrap my mind around the fact that the one (hypothetical) person I can barely stand to be in the same room with, Jesus loves just as much as He loves me? And as much as He wants me to walk in His purpose and blessing - that's what He wants for him/her, too.
Whatever reasons brought that woman at the theater Friday night to such a deep level of anger, Jesus knows. And He loves her and wants to heal her of those hurts and transform her into His likeness.
Because I am His, I need to learn to respond like Him--with love and concern. Not just because that will help me get beyond the craziness of the holidays, but because this is the second greatest commandment and my Jesus knows best.
Written by: Jaime Hlavin
Edited by: Brigit Edwards
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