How little it takes sometimes
to bring a bit of joy to a child's life.
As we've worked to build bridges of trust and of kindness
with little ones who come to our gate in Davao,
we see faces light up, and smiles beam.
with little ones who come to our gate in Davao,
we see faces light up, and smiles beam.
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But kindness
is sometimes taken as a right.
Thanks are neglected.
More kindness is demanded the next day.
How do we impart something of God's love
without creating unhealthy expectations?
We have no easy answers.
Then I read in Romans words that humble me.
Words revealing that God faces
the exact same challenge with me.
Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness
and forbearance and patience,
not knowing that God’s kindness is meant
to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4
How often does He also bring joy to my life,
prove Himself trustworthy,
demonstrate kindness?
And yet I, with ingratitude and with an attitude of entitlement,
presume to look for more, and more, and more from God
instead of responding with thanksgiving
and a change of heart and action.
In His faithfulness He uses even this to teach me more of His goodness...
is sometimes taken as a right.
Thanks are neglected.
More kindness is demanded the next day.
How do we impart something of God's love
without creating unhealthy expectations?
We have no easy answers.
Then I read in Romans words that humble me.
Words revealing that God faces
the exact same challenge with me.
Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness
and forbearance and patience,
not knowing that God’s kindness is meant
to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4
How often does He also bring joy to my life,
prove Himself trustworthy,
demonstrate kindness?
And yet I, with ingratitude and with an attitude of entitlement,
presume to look for more, and more, and more from God
instead of responding with thanksgiving
and a change of heart and action.
In His faithfulness He uses even this to teach me more of His goodness...
*edited from the archives
3 comments:
Beautiful comment, Barbara, and so true. That "entitlement" attitude is so easy to recognize in OTHERS, and we just don't see how we do the same thing to our Father!
ouch....I needed that reminder!
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart
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