Easier is the job of writing when something extraordinary occurs in life, the ordinary extraordinary has been springboard for musings. Christmas has finally finished, extended, for me, in the receipt of my final gift yesterday, December 27th. According to my bride, her online purchase was supposed to arrive before, but she, like so many others were informed, by some shipping 'bot that an unforeseen delay was discovered...the day before. Our church secretary had ordered the one singular gift her daughter requested nearly a month before Christmas only to find out her gift would not make it on time either, her eight year old to discover that Santa isn't real.
Some say that timing is everything. And it is. There is man's timing, our expectations and God's timing. It is God's timing that is everything. Just when I think I have everything lined up, ready to go, under control, a kink in my plans shows up. Some call it a monkey wrench, others call it #@*^*%$! Until I learned to let go of my expectations, and the expectations of others, I used to get not only kinked, but severely bent whenever expectations were not met. I believe it was the disappointment in myself or the disappointment that others experienced because of me that fueled the fire of anger within me. While I will step up to my part of the catastrophe, there are two things I need to understand.
1. If there is anything I can do next time to assure correct timing, adjust accordingly.
Learn from mistakes. I am a people pleaser and used to be so much more so before. Initially I did so because I wanted others to like me. But as I age, pray and engage God in the mix, I have learned to turn my being liked into something different; pleasing people as a way of honoring them. Stemming from a passage in the Bible, Paul telling us not to think more highly of ourselves than others, esteeming them more highly than myself, this gives rise to a better understanding of people pleasing. A different goal, one steeped in humility. If I was self consumed in my own world, my insensitivity to others influencing the poor timing or disappointing moment, I need to learn to refocus.
2. Sometimes disappointment found in others is a means to helping them learn the grace of forgiveness we can offer as servants of the King.
What is done is done. We can't change it. We can't start over again. We can't step out of time to fix it. So why to we heap our frustrations out on others? Something amazing happens when I make a huge mistake and the other person, rightly and appropriately disenchanted pours grace upon my dizzy head. Real grace, not the fake, "it's okay" kind. It is real grace I want to pour on the head of those who disappoint me. Some of my amazing moments rise from the deep and meaningful grace lavished on me rising out of my failures to properly love and appreciate someone I love. This grace can move mountains!
So, yesterday I waited to open my brown boxed gift until my Carrie arrived home from work, only to discover another brown box inside with another box (the espresso maker box) inside that. Two days 'lat(t)e' I set it up and prepped it for this morning's brew, with great anticipation. It delivered! This morning I made the first of many mochas and cappuccinos that will add to future days, blessed provision and shopping from the love of my life, Carrie. Timing is everything. Because of the delay, I had Christmas extend days beyond what most expect, along with a surprise satisfaction this December 28th. As 2013 ends and 2014 soon enters, it is my hope and prayer that God allows me to lavish grace upon lives of others whose timing and other faux pas hit me square in the face. Wouldn't it be nice if we all find abundant grace to do the same next year? I know I will fail others and others will fail me. God's timing is everything. I want to rest in Him.
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