Do you ever feel like hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign around your neck? I know I do. I would like a break from the children’s minor emergencies, unexpected events that come up in life, people doing things that are irritating or hurtful. In short, I don’t want life to disturb me! I would rather cruise along, serene, in a clean-hotel-room-with-fluffy-pillows kind of existence. I guess after a while it might get boring, but it would be nice to try for a few days.
I understand this is not reality, and definitely not what we are called to as followers of Christ, because I know this is not how Jesus lived. In fact, it almost seems as though He had a “Disturb Me” sign around His neck. The difference is in how Jesus reacted to what I view as disturbances to His ministry. He sure didn’t react like I do! He was able to look beyond the inconvenience to Himself and really see the person and their need right in front of Him. This is so hard for us to do sometimes, especially with children. After all, we have a to-do list and most of the items on it are things we need to do for them. My kids don’t seem to understand though, and feel that their questions are more important than what I think I am supposed to be doing today.
My desire is to be more like Jesus when the unexpected happens, when I get that unexpected phone call, when a child suddenly throws up all over the floor, or when a friend calls and asks if I could do just a small favor for them. I pray that this week we can have patience to approach the interruptions in our days with grace and peace, looking at them not so much as disturbances, but as opportunities to love others like Jesus did.
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36
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