I could learn a lot from my GPS app I have on my phone. I have this real cool app that you earn points for driving and sending notifications like traffic jams and accidents. The more points you earn the higher your rating. It makes me feel like I’m fighting traffic! Daily, I will enter a location where I want to go and constantly I am ignoring her. (My GPS is a woman.)
Every time I take a different turn, or add a stop without letting her know, I imagine her saying to me, “Why do you have me? You never listen.” But you know what? She never does. She never gets mad at me if I don’t turn where she says. She’s just like fine, we’ll go a different way. She doesn’t yell at me, tell me I’m stupid, or deducts points from my traffic fighting. (I know, I’ve checked.)
How many times in life do things not go the way I planned? How many times A DAY do my kids not listen to me? And more recently, how often does my body tell me, “Nope, we’re not doing that?”
UGH! Why can’t I be just like, we’ll that didn’t happen. Let’s try something else? Seriously, why do I get so emotional over things? I am completely sure God gave us the ability to adapt to our circumstances. And why does the circumstance have to be about me?
It doesn’t, until I make it about me. Until I cuss under my breath at the driver who just pulled out of the parking lot. Until I yell at my daughter for not having any socks. Or until I feel sorry for myself because I’m getting older.
I really don’t have to take things so personally. Because you know what? I’m not responsible for when something doesn’t go as planned, but I am responsible however, for how I respond to it.
So maybe I need a code or something to think of when I start taking things personal. You know like, “Let it go.” Or “Not my monkeys”. Although in my head it will sound more like, “NOT MY MONKEYS! NOT MY MONKEYS! NOT MY MONKEYS!” I’m going to have to work on it. It will be a process.
But do you know why this is so important? When I’ve stopped listening to my GPS and decide I’m not going to follow her anymore, I just turn her off. That’s what happens when you stop listening to what directs you.
You turn Him off.
And that’s a discussion for another day.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. – Proverbs 29:11
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the laps of fools. – Ecclesiastes 7:9
Growing Faith 