For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. —Romans 15:4

Friday, June 10, 2011

In the Heart

1 Samuel 16:7b
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

With layers of wedding cake carefully stacked into the back of my Jeep, I headed down the road on a delivery mission. My daughter baked and iced the cake layers the day before so that she could assemble it once we reached our destination. Driving with a cake in the back of the car takes some care. I took all of the curves at a slow crawl. When I reached a major intersection I traveled at a snail-like pace as I pulled out of one road and on to another. The driver who came up behind me, obviously ticked at me, did not know my story. She had no idea why I drove at an unhurried pace or that I was delivering a beautiful cake to a special couple. She only saw that my Jeep crept along like a turtle, and that aggravated her.

Too often in life I lose my patience, yell at the driver in front of me, become aggravated at a co-worker, wonder what’s with so-and-so and on it goes. God tells me to take time to know the whole story. Look at my friend’s heart, listen to my co-worker’s situation, and consider that the driver next to me might be having a bad day. While I see the outside of a person’s life, God sees the inside. He knows what’s going on in our lives, he listens to every beat of our heart and he loves us. The next time I get frustrated with someone, I want to stop and find out what is really going on. I want to see their heart.

P.S.-The cake was delivered, set up, and enjoyed by the wedding party.

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