“She conducts her conversations with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is ever her concern.” Prov. 31:26
I've been thinking a lot about my grandma this week for some reason. I can’t think of any one thing that may have revived my memory of her so vividly; she passed away a long time ago. My memories of her are warm and solid and comforting. She took care of my sister, brothers and me for years as my mom and dad worked long hours to keep our family afloat. Grandma was THIS little girl’s "BFF".
So many of the little lessons I learned from her have shaped my life. She was a quiet, godly woman who poured her life out every day on the lives of those she loved.
I try to live my life according to her little unspoken lessons, her wise admonitions: “Life According to Lottie”. Here’s a sampling of the simple treasures I gleaned in her care…not surprisingly, each is grounded in life of Jesus, Whom she loved so much:
“Be nice”. (Acts 10:38 says Jesus went about doing good.)
“Don’t be ugly.” (This is different from “Be nice”! Eph 4:29 is the perfect little guide-verse for “not being ugly”.)
“Be honest.” (Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Him there is no shadow of deceit.)
“Put others first.” This is the one we tend to rebel against the most, but once we learn to do it (and then do it on purpose, as a lifestyle!), it not only changes us, but it changes others. (Philippians 2:3)
“Be generous.” (Grandma always told me that when I gave to others, I was giving to Jesus. Matthew 25:35 bears this out.)
“Don’t be afraid.” (Isaiah and Joshua are peppered with this encouraging command… encouraging, because it is followed in each instance with God’s promise to protect and strengthen us…and to be with us.)
The little list above is just a tiny taste of “Life According to Lottie”. Let me challenge you (and myself!) to spend one day (today?) applying just these few simple principles in your encounters with people. At the end of the day, you’ll have a simple satisfaction that comes only from releasing the Jesus in you.
Go be a blessing!
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