“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV)
When I am in the middle of a chore, I become frustrated when there is an interruption, whether it is a phone call, or the doorbell, or the kids yelling for me to “come see this.” Regardless of the urgency, I hate to stop what I am doing.
The other day, my parents called right when I was about to prepare dinner. I let out a long sigh. To be honest, I wanted to let the answering machine take the call. I rationalized that I would return their call when I had a more time to talk. However, I couldn’t ignore the ringing.
When I answered the phone, I believe that my mother heard my hurried tone, because she immediately apologized for disturbing me and asked me to call her back later. I felt bad because she had detected my frustration/impatience. I turned off the stove and sat at the table, closing my eyes and praying for God to remove any feelings of distraction.
Mama wanted to thank me for a card I had mailed to her and Daddy. We talked for an hour. She told me about church activities and her neighbors. When she put Daddy on the phone, he and I talked for another half hour. When I finally got off the phone, I kept a smile on my face for the rest of the afternoon.
That night, as I thanked God for my parents, I remembered my frustration from earlier in the day. I asked God to forgive me for almost throwing away the opportunity for Him to give me the joy that I so frequently pray for. He used my parents to bring a much needed break and lots of laughter into my day.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for the little interruptions in my day. I praise You for the people who follow Your prompting to call or email or drop a card in the mail. Help me to see these times as the blessings that they are.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dorothea lives in California with her husband and their two teenagers. Although she has endured the challenges of several chronic conditions for over 20 years, she trusts in God’s grace to help her get through each day. You may email her at: dorothea.love@yahoo.com, or leave a comment and read some of her other works at: http://www.restministriessunroom.ning.com/profile/DorotheaLove
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