Unshackled Moments ~ April 6 ~ Reacting With Love

The night before last I stayed up too late trying to finish something that needed to be done before yesterday morning. Unfortunately being up late didn't set back the time the alarm would go off. It rang as early as it always does on days I need to work. Couple this with a general lack of rest lately, and I woke yesterday morning exhausted and grouchy. I could hear the frustration in my voice with everything. I wasn't so much upset at anything other than not being in bed asleep, where I really wanted to be.
At one point I realized I was short and snappy with Leah. She hadn't done anything wrong. I was just in a bad mood. About the time I realized how I sounded and worried that I may have hurt her feelings, she walked over to me, gave me a kiss and told me how much she loves me. It was the high point of my day.
I was being a jerk. I didn't mean to be, but while I saw what was happening I couldn't seem to stop it. It was like seeing the wreck about to happen when the car spins out of control and knowing that there was nothing to do but pray and wait to see how bad it would be in the end. Leah had two choices. She could get hurt and angry, let my bad attitude ruin her day and build a (temporary) wall between us, or she could choose to react with love and bless me, even though I wasn't blessing her. She chose love.
This is how we are to react to the world, to everyone in it.

But she loves you! That makes it easier, right? Wrong. Think about it. We all too often allow impoliteness and frustrations to leak out all over those we love in a way that we would guard against with strangers. And when someone we care about is hurtful or insensitive toward us it hurts much worse than when a stranger is rude. So Leah being able to choose love over anger with me is a greater task of love rather than a lessor one.

I want to open myself to the control of the Spirit so that more and more I choose to act and react in love. This is the example we see in the life of Jesus as He loved the ones who would cost Him His life...us. I am so grateful for the reminder by example that Leah showed me. We all have bad days from time to time, but if we stay surrendered we can avoid having a bad attitude to match and not take it out on others. And for the record I apologized to Leah and did my best to make it right.

Abba, help me to be quick to get out of self when my mood begins to crumble. Help me not take my off days and frustrations out on those around me. And when I encounter someone who is acting unloving, for whatever reason, help me to choose love over any negative reaction. Amen.