Listen or Lose It, I Get To Choose It

I wanted to act like a five year old.

But I didn’t.

I wanted to kick some proverbial butt by raising my voice.

But I bit my tongue.

I wanted to lash out but somehow I demonstrated self-control.

Since “supremo self-controlo” doesn’t happen for me 100% of the time I gave serious thought as to what went right this time. I was on my little, brown couch the next morning thanking Him for family time the night before. My journal read,

“Thank you God for—— The. Best. Family. Night. Ever.”

As I reflected on our wonderful evening I couldn’t help but consider how close it came to going the other way.

Supper was nearing a finish and I was trying desperately to round up the crew. Hot items were becoming cold items as I lovingly invited…

politely requested….

strongly encouraged…

firmly demanded…

and finally, frantically forced…

peeps to the dinner table.

PUUUUUHLEEEEEAAAAASE PEOPLE!

COME. AND. EAT!

I can’t remember what exchange occurred as we neared the table but my family was dangerously close to a verbal eruption of frustration and contempt that would have outdone Mt. St. Helen’s.

And then the miracle happened.

I made my mind captive to Christ.

I didn’t feel like it doing it at the time. In fact, quite the opposite.

Mental note: “Obeying the voice I hear in my head may not be what I feel like doing.”

Honestly, I’m surprised I even heard it. The Holy Spirit speaks in such soft tones.

Mental note: “Keeping my mouth shut helps me keep my ears (especially the ears of my heart) open.”

And then I did the thing I wish I did more…

I listened and obeyed.

The following verse popped into my head:

“A wise woman builds hers house, while a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

In a flash, I imagined what tone our family meal would take if I barked (or submitted to the temptation to take my hot dinner to my room and eat by myself.) (Told you I wanted to act like a five year old.)

God gave me a vision for what the evening could look like if I acted on my impulsive urge to share my frustration in a not-so-Christ-like manner. I’m pretty sure my mother would have called the moment a true DoAhead.

I bit my tongue. I ate my meal at the table. And before long, what seemed to be an insurmountable moment of exasperation faded. Soon, vision clouded by steam from my hot temper saw a very different sight.

• Sharpened wits and tickled funny bones during lively supper discussion.
• Teamwork and rivalry elicited during kitchen cleanup.
• Shared laughter from the pile of limbs protruding from a “family smash” on the living room floor.

I could go on but you get the point.

I’m not trying to make myself all important by implying that an angry outburst on my part would have ruined an entire evening. I suspect one way or another we would have gotten through it.

BUT…in the still of this morning a smile plays on my lips as I think about everything that brought us such joy last night.

Thank God I listened.

Thank God I obeyed.

Help me Lord to do it again, and again and again.

My prayer for each of us this week will be this,

“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” 2 Cor. 10:5 MSG

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” 2 Cor 10:5 ESV

And don’t forget…

Angie Ryg is hosting Inspire Me Monday today!

These lovely ladies (including your DoAhead friend) will be co-hosting with Angie: Denise J. Hughes and Anita Strawn de Ojeda. Below are your  1-2-3′s for linking up and living life inspired!

1. Link up an inspirational post from the previous week (just one please.)
2. Visit two other contributors (especially the person who linked up right before you) and leave an encouraging comment.
3. Share the inspiration three ways…you can tweet, share a post on Facebook, Pin-It, Instagram-It, WHATEVER form of social media you choose…just SHARE!

Your DoAhead Friend,