– Secret Place Insights –
Dear One, people think that I might be a perfectionist. I say ‘think,’ because I don’t know of anyone who can actually carryout perfectionism, and if you can’t, are you? That is, anyone who is not, say, God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. Oh, just a moment, I do have this friend who…might, just might…no I guess…she cannot qualify either. Not because of anything I have seen, or heard from her, no, not at all, just simply because Scripture states in Roman’s 3:10 that there’s, “…not even one,” perfect being.
In 1961, while Ron and I were dating, I should have had a strong suspicion of Ron’s lack of interest to detail. For on a sunny August afternoon, when looking for space in his car for a picnic basket, I found in the backseat, still in its box since last April, an extra-large, chocolate bunny which I had given him on Easter.
Right then, I might have surmised that he wasn’t a, ‘Before-you-get-out-of-the-car-gather-up-everything-that-does-not-belong-in-the-car,’ type person, but at the time, my only concern was that the chocolate was now inedible.
Well, over the years, you can perhaps imagine how many conversations we have had over the ‘good’ and the ‘good enough.’ We have had so many that we have often laughed over the reminder which sometimes followed. “If you die before me, I am going to have your headstone put in crooked, and leaning to one side, with the inscription, “Good Enough.” I get no satisfaction…for it’s okay with him.
What I am about to share is not something I especially want to share with you, but I am willing. For God, in His mercy, and wisdom, has made me willing, and my husband willing, also. It has something to do with sanctification, you know, that path that Christians walk to become more like Jesus, a spiritual level that we can never achieve, but are called to walk as best we can for God’s glory.
Over a month ago, while I was doing homework in preparation for leading a Seeking Him Bible study, I pondered the next question in the workbook. In doing so, this thought passed through my mind, “Ron’s ways (chores and such) are not my ways. That thought was instantly followed by words other than my own, “And your standards are not My standards.”
With those words…thoughts…of how short I come to meeting God’s standards, rolled over and over like dark clouds in a mile-high thunderous cold-front. Enormous clouds climbed over others, only to be folded under by a sudden formation of even larger ones, but in the dark, rolling, mass, it wasn’t grief I experienced. It was awe. Yes, it was something like the awe one has for such a churning sky, but the awe was only for our Creator.
Within the awe was unending gratitude, never to be forgotten gratitude. I had received a lesson to take to heart and cherish. So, Ron’s ways are not mine. Big deal. In comparison with my standards and God’s, Ron’s and mine are not that far apart.
So this week, when old patio flower pots were used for this summer’s flowers, I did not say a word about the newer pots that might have been used. Big deal. Maybe next year?
These days, I am more concerned with how far my standards are from those of God, and can’t help wonder how God, or Ron, can put up with me. Thankfully, I know the answer. It is love.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; But
the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13
Blessings for another week,
Susanne
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