I unfolded my little purple Barbie scooter and set it on the ground. The little 7 year old me loved scootering on the beach path in California. One of my friends decided to join me one day and I noticed she was loaded with armor – a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads! She looked at my bare arms, knees, and head, and said with shock,”You don’t wear knee pads when you scooter? No helmet? No elbow pads?” Not knowing safety gear was even a “thing” for scootering, I answered, “No, I don’t.” As soon as the words slid out of my mouth, the girls’ eyes grew round like saucer plates. “You don’t wear knee pads when you scooter?” she asked the question again – dismayed. I seemed flabbergasted myself, since I had never worn them on a casual scooter outing on the beach path. Hesitatingly, I answered,”No. I never have.” Her eyes grew even larger and said,” What if you fell?” I thought about the possibilities if I fell and suddenly I felt differently about hopping on the L shaped beast. When I finally did, I skated slower than normal due to the fear of “what if she’s right? what if I fall and get raspberries on my elbows, knees, and crack open my head on the concrete?” I didn’t actually fall that day, but I felt less than confident even with my 8 months of scooter expertise.
I eventually grew out of riding scooters and beach cruisers and fell in love with riding dirt bikes and horses. You either go city or go country. I chose the latter. Observe:
During my life everyday, I face people who don’t always agree with my ways that the Lord has instructed me in. It’s difficult to hear their feelings about issues and I sometimes feel inferior. As you know, I’ve lately been reading a book in the Bible known as Job. Today I read about Job’s response to his less than comforting friends. He tells them:
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
-Job 13:2-10
Sometimes it’s difficult and belittling when we hear what some of our friends or family think of some of our ideas or ways. Job heard the exact same from his friends. The friend that spoke to him before this passage basically told him that he was horrid, sinful, and needed to get right with God. I love the way Job responds to all three of his friends however. He tells them that he is not inferior to them nor are they to him. Job doesn’t give in. He knows what God thinks of him and that’s all that seems to matter. He never sank into a hole and said,”Oh, you’re right, Zophar. I have sinned and I am screwed up and horrid.” His friends put him down and probably made him feel like a grain of dust. But he knew what God thought of him and how his Father viewed him.
Even when others may lower us, we still find joy in the standards the Christ has set for us. That’s the only thing that matters. Humans have such high expectations, that when we try to do everything to make others happy, we always burn out. It’s when we want what Christ has set up for us that we succeed. He never bends or pushes us hard that we break.
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
-Matthew 11:30
We may never agree with our peeps (lolz, Tina) and they may never agree with us, but we know that the only one we must please is already pleased with us. It brings me such joy to know that I have already made a smile form on my Savior’s face even if there is a frown of scorn on my neighbor’s.
Auf Wiedersehen! (Goodbye in German)
Emily 😛
P.S. Don’t think I’m saying making people happy is bad. I can’t wait to surprise everyone with gifts this Christmas!!!! All I mean is if something Christ has told you is making your peeps mad, it only matters what Christ thinks – and He’s already smiling on you.
