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02-21-2008, 02:27 PM
Too Tight’s Not Right
by John Grant
Are you uptight today? Do you want to talk to someone about it?
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27
It seems like the older I get, the more up tight I get over even the smallest of things and it really got to bothering me. So I said to my self, “self you need to get a hold on this temper of yours.” Actually I need to be more like my wife, who never gets up tight over anything except when she gets up tight at me when I get up tight over things I should not get up tight over. She sluffs everything off, saying “What’s it going to matter a hundred years from now?”
A few months ago I asked God to help me to not sweat the small things, and the big things too, for that matter. I have been working on it real hard and making progress. When something upsets my plans, I just sit back and ask God what he is trying to show me or to protect me from. What lessons do I learn from this rock in the middle of my otherwise smooth and well planned road?
Take for instance the other night. I was flying from the northern part of the state five hundred miles to the south. When I got to the airport, my flight was delayed an hour. Oh well, it was non stop so I would only be an hour late to my destination. I sat and read. Then the hour delay turned into two and then three and then maybe not if “we can’t find a back up plane.”
As I stood in front of the counter I took note of the passengers fuming, cursing and being mean to the nice lady behind the counter who was doing the best she could. While everyone was protesting, I noted a plane about to depart to Atlanta and walked over to that counter. I took note of the lady’s name, put on my best charm and said “Leigh Ann, you look like you’ve had a hard and long day and I bet you would want to top it off by helping a nice man like me get to Miami.” Surprised, she looked up at me and said, “Well let me see what I can do.”
Sure enough, she had one seat left and a very tight connection, but I took the challenge and walked right on board. When we landed in Atlanta, we had a little over thirty minutes before the Miami flight and then had to wait for a gate. People were fuming and yelling at the crew. Finally the door was open and everyone scrambled, except that is for those of us who had to claim planeside checked baggage. Unloading took for ever and the people fumed. I refused to get up tight.
And then I saw it. In the western sky was the most gorgeous sunset one could ever lay eyes on. It had red, turquoise and rose, with a light green border. Rays of sunlight shot out in three directions. It was absolutely stunning. I just stood there, thanked God for His beauty and thought it was worth all the hassle of being redirected just to see that sight. People almost mauled the poor ramp agent who brought the baggage cart and tripped over one another to get to their bags. I am sure no one else saw the sky. Actually, I got so enthralled in the aura in the sky that I was the last to pick up my bag, and then slowly.
As I walked to the terminal I kept looking over my shoulder and then out the windows just to get a last glimpse of God’s daily farewell sign. I didn’t run, but walked briskly over three concourses and was the last to board the Miami flight. I still think God held it a minute or two and also reserved a space for my luggage in the overhead.
As I settled into my seat and we taxied out, I couldn’t get the sunset out of my mind. It was like a glimpse of heaven. And I think it was God’s sign to me that he is pleased with my progress in controlling my emotions. I have a long ways to go, but with God’s help, I am making progress.
So remember, don’t get so tangled up in the hustle and hassle of the world that you loose sight of the everyday sunsets God’s sends into your life.
Questions: What can you do today to loosen the grip of stress on your life?
by John Grant
Are you uptight today? Do you want to talk to someone about it?
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27
It seems like the older I get, the more up tight I get over even the smallest of things and it really got to bothering me. So I said to my self, “self you need to get a hold on this temper of yours.” Actually I need to be more like my wife, who never gets up tight over anything except when she gets up tight at me when I get up tight over things I should not get up tight over. She sluffs everything off, saying “What’s it going to matter a hundred years from now?”
A few months ago I asked God to help me to not sweat the small things, and the big things too, for that matter. I have been working on it real hard and making progress. When something upsets my plans, I just sit back and ask God what he is trying to show me or to protect me from. What lessons do I learn from this rock in the middle of my otherwise smooth and well planned road?
Take for instance the other night. I was flying from the northern part of the state five hundred miles to the south. When I got to the airport, my flight was delayed an hour. Oh well, it was non stop so I would only be an hour late to my destination. I sat and read. Then the hour delay turned into two and then three and then maybe not if “we can’t find a back up plane.”
As I stood in front of the counter I took note of the passengers fuming, cursing and being mean to the nice lady behind the counter who was doing the best she could. While everyone was protesting, I noted a plane about to depart to Atlanta and walked over to that counter. I took note of the lady’s name, put on my best charm and said “Leigh Ann, you look like you’ve had a hard and long day and I bet you would want to top it off by helping a nice man like me get to Miami.” Surprised, she looked up at me and said, “Well let me see what I can do.”
Sure enough, she had one seat left and a very tight connection, but I took the challenge and walked right on board. When we landed in Atlanta, we had a little over thirty minutes before the Miami flight and then had to wait for a gate. People were fuming and yelling at the crew. Finally the door was open and everyone scrambled, except that is for those of us who had to claim planeside checked baggage. Unloading took for ever and the people fumed. I refused to get up tight.
And then I saw it. In the western sky was the most gorgeous sunset one could ever lay eyes on. It had red, turquoise and rose, with a light green border. Rays of sunlight shot out in three directions. It was absolutely stunning. I just stood there, thanked God for His beauty and thought it was worth all the hassle of being redirected just to see that sight. People almost mauled the poor ramp agent who brought the baggage cart and tripped over one another to get to their bags. I am sure no one else saw the sky. Actually, I got so enthralled in the aura in the sky that I was the last to pick up my bag, and then slowly.
As I walked to the terminal I kept looking over my shoulder and then out the windows just to get a last glimpse of God’s daily farewell sign. I didn’t run, but walked briskly over three concourses and was the last to board the Miami flight. I still think God held it a minute or two and also reserved a space for my luggage in the overhead.
As I settled into my seat and we taxied out, I couldn’t get the sunset out of my mind. It was like a glimpse of heaven. And I think it was God’s sign to me that he is pleased with my progress in controlling my emotions. I have a long ways to go, but with God’s help, I am making progress.
So remember, don’t get so tangled up in the hustle and hassle of the world that you loose sight of the everyday sunsets God’s sends into your life.
Questions: What can you do today to loosen the grip of stress on your life?