We hurry, we hustle, we bustle, we hear the words (and maybe roll our eyes) that challenge us to slow down and breathe, take one step at a time, and stop to hear the bells. But do we listen?
Are you listening?
So afraid we will run out of time we barrel through with our agenda, and get mad when someone won’t stop to help us, or when someone interrupts us. We barely make it through a yellow light but flip off the driver who got distracted and didn’t wait their turn at a stop sign. We want cashiers to scan faster, restaurants to prepare our food in seconds, but did we see the woman and her children sharing one meal between 4 people? Did we see the gentleman who was happy to have a cashier to talk to for a few minutes, easing his loneliness? The thing is, this isn’t just at Christmas time, though it seems to get worse around this time. How I wish this were not true of us!
This is not meant to be a guilt trip, but rather a challenge … I’m challenging myself, and anyone who will hear: Let us take the time to breathe. Let us stop and plan – that extra 10 minutes of coordinating our shopping lists & errands may save an extra hour (or even day) of unnecessary running, not to mention gas money. And the list goes on; I’m sure you get the idea.
And let us extend grace everywhere we go. Grace – not because it’s deserved but because it is of God.
To all who have learned and practice the art of stopping to smell the roses and hear the bells, Thank You! Thank you for setting the example, and for the grace you show each day. I hope we can be challenged to follow suit, and encouraged that it can be done.
And to everyone … Have a very blessed day!