We live in a world of imperfect people. And the truth is that they will disappoint us. God calls us to accept others, but how do we do that when they let us down? In today’s short video, Pam reveals the key to accepting others, even when we don’t like their behavior.
Wouldn't it be great if everyone would just do what we thought was the right thing? Wouldn’t it be great if everybody in traffic stayed in their lane, or gave us a signal when they wanted to turn? Or if they wouldn't get in the turning lane too soon and block the entrance to your favorite place to get your sweet tea every morning?
Well, this morning I was going to my regular place. I had my $1.06 in my hand and was ready to turn into the parking lot and get my tea, but I couldn’t turn in because other cars had gotten into the turning lane too soon and blocked my way. I was sitting there with my blood pressure rising, thinking, “It's 7 am, for heaven sakes! Where are all these people going?” That’s when God said to me,
“Sweetheart, they're going to work, just like you are. They’re stressed and in a hurry, just like you are sometimes.”
And I looked at the young lady that was blocking my way. She looked like a young mother with a little kid in the backseat, and God said, “She's just trying to get to work so she can make a living to take care of her family.”
Immediately, the word acceptance popped in my mind. And I realized, you know, maybe she wasn't doing the right thing by being in the turning lane too soon, but you know what? She's still just a human being, hopefully God's child, doing the best she can. So when I realized that she was just trying to do life like I was, I relaxed and waited. And while I did, I thanked God for the times He had accepted me when I didn't do the right thing.” As Paul said in Ephesians,
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)
God accepts me for who I am, even when I don't do what other people want or need me to do. When other people disappoint me and they don't do what I want them to do, I realize I do the same thing sometimes. I disappoint people.
We don't do the right thing all the time, yet God still loves us so much.
But do you know what? He wants us to extend that acceptance and love to other people. Something I've learned more and more in my life is to accept myself when I make mistakes, when I fall short, or when I disappoint people. The more I accept myself for who I am as a child of God - complete, righteous and Holy - the more I learn to accept other people. We all make mistakes; we all disappoint people.
As I learn to accept myself more, I'm able to see that other people are struggling too.
They are just like I am, trying to do the right thing, and do all things for all people sometimes. So maybe the next time you're in traffic and someone cuts you off, or maybe someone in your family disappoints you and doesn't do what you think they should do, just take a breath and say, “You know what? I know who they are. I can accept them even though I don't really like this behavior right now.” And then, let God show you how to walk through acceptance of yourself, as well as showing acceptance for other people.
Remember, God always accepts us for who we are as His children and He wants us to extend His acceptance to ourselves and to others.