Psalm 103:8-18
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When we went to lunch today after church, Zola got upset with me because I would not let her hold her milk bottle by herself. The milk at Burger King® comes in a plastic bottle, and we add a straw…and she usually ends up with more milk ON her than IN her! So I insisted on holding the bottle today while she got her drink. That did not go over well. She clammed up and stared straight ahead and would not speak or eat or move…for probably close to 15 minutes. We went on with our meal and virtually ignored her. She began to get upset when Timothy ate an apple slice from her plate…and then a French fry. I told her since she was not eating, that food was “fair game”…and soon, she was eating her lunch.
We are by no means experts when it comes to managing children and their “tantrums,” but we have learned that often, the more things you can ignore and overlook, the better. It would have served no purpose (other than to ruin lunch for everyone) if we had gotten upset today. There was no need for threats to punish...or a knee-jerk reaction. We chalked this up to the moodiness of an almost-three-year-old…maybe a lack of sleep…and Zola just being “Zola”!
As I read these scripture verses – which happen to be some of my favorites – I thought about how often we behave like a sullen or insolent child. We are stubborn… we disobey and disrupt…and God loves us anyway. He continues about His business while we sit and pout, wring our hands, or lie down on the floor and kick and scream in a temper tantrum. And then He picks us up and snuggles us as if to say, “Feel better now?”
We need to take a long hard look at these verses and the lessons they contain. We need to apply this same compassion and mercy to those we encounter in our daily living. We need to offer forgiveness…and to blow many offenses to the four winds – as though they had never been here. And with Jesus’ help, we can do exactly that! We do not have the power to forgive sins…but we can – and must – forgive offenses against us. We must look past hurts, irritations, and mistreatment and see what God sees…His precious children…and we must love them, as He loves us!
I pulled Zola into my lap as she began to eat, and I snuggled her. When I tried to return her to the chair beside me, she protested…”I want to sit with you!” She felt happy with me…and loved. It was as if we had experienced a mutual understanding that everything was forgiven…the pouting was over…and I still loved her just as much as ever. And that’s how it is with God. He loves us so much…even when we are so very unlovable. And He wants us to share that love with others in His name.
This is not always an easy thing to do…but it is so necessary. As God loves and forgives you…as He offers you compassion and mercy…won’t you do the same for others? Who do you need to figuratively “snuggle on your lap” today and let them know that all is forgiven? What grudges are you still holding? Isn’t this a great time to release them? Don’t you feel God calling you to do just that?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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