I saw something in myself last night that I didn't like. Something so far from the heart of God that as I read this morning about a wasteful but passionate sacrifice I couldn't help but see my distance from my Savior.
Beth and I have been cutting back on some things lately in order to save money. We have been a lot more conscience of our spending and we have been doing really good. There is one guilty pleasure that I indulge in though.....Smart Start cereal. It is like $5 a box and is gone in about a week with only me eating it. My kids (especially Silas) have really started loving it as well and now I only get a about 4 bowls out of a box. We had a big lunch yesterday so instead of having Beth cook food we weren't going to finish, we called for a cereal dinner. Problem though....we were out of milk and smart start. I ran out to the store and grabbed what we needed. On the way home I began to think about how we could make the Smart Start last longer. I had a brilliant idea. We could serve our kids the cheaper cereal and have more of my beloved smart start for Beth and I. When I got home and poured the bowls I watched Silas' smile and excitement change as he realized he had something other than Smart Start in his bowl. What made it even worse was that as I got up to get a second helping I accidentally put my fresh bowl of Smart Start in front of him and his less expensive less tasty bowl in front of me. When I realized my mistake I changed the bowls back and officially broke Silas' heart. He wanted to eat the good stuff, what Daddy eats,....he wanted the best, but I was satisfied in giving him some bland Cheerios's and saving the best for myself. Well, Silas got over it, as always, and we finished the evening strong with a round of DVD bingo. We put the kids to bed and did the same ourselves.
This morning as I read about the wasteful love of the sinful woman, pouring expensive perfume on Jesus, washing His feet with her hair, looking foolish in the eyes of everybody around, I realized my heart is selfish. Not just about cereal... but about a lot of things. You see the woman's act of love was viewed as wasteful by everybody but one person.....Jesus himself. Jesus knows about wasteful love..... It is what defined His life. He being Holy, Perfect, Creator, Sustainer and King, poured out His life, for a sinful woman, for you and for me. I find myself reading this story and wondering how I would of reacted if I was there. But the answer is found in my actions and my heart in something as simple as cereal. When given the opportunity I many times save the good stuff for myself and pour out bowls of the generic to those around me. How different is that from Jesus?..... exactly opposite. You see He lived his life avoiding the brand name stuff all the while living, dying and resurrecting so we could feast on the Smart Start of eternity. He made you and I children, co-heirs, princes and princesses by sacrificing everything. Lord Jesus thanks for using the simple things of this world to make me see your eternal truths and your perfect character. Jesus make my heart like yours. May I love in such a way that I look foolish and wasteful. May I pour out what you have given me into the lives of others and may my joy be found not when my bowl is filled but in the overflowing bowls of those who live their lives around me. Lord forgive me for being so unlike you sometimes.
Beth and I have been cutting back on some things lately in order to save money. We have been a lot more conscience of our spending and we have been doing really good. There is one guilty pleasure that I indulge in though.....Smart Start cereal. It is like $5 a box and is gone in about a week with only me eating it. My kids (especially Silas) have really started loving it as well and now I only get a about 4 bowls out of a box. We had a big lunch yesterday so instead of having Beth cook food we weren't going to finish, we called for a cereal dinner. Problem though....we were out of milk and smart start. I ran out to the store and grabbed what we needed. On the way home I began to think about how we could make the Smart Start last longer. I had a brilliant idea. We could serve our kids the cheaper cereal and have more of my beloved smart start for Beth and I. When I got home and poured the bowls I watched Silas' smile and excitement change as he realized he had something other than Smart Start in his bowl. What made it even worse was that as I got up to get a second helping I accidentally put my fresh bowl of Smart Start in front of him and his less expensive less tasty bowl in front of me. When I realized my mistake I changed the bowls back and officially broke Silas' heart. He wanted to eat the good stuff, what Daddy eats,....he wanted the best, but I was satisfied in giving him some bland Cheerios's and saving the best for myself. Well, Silas got over it, as always, and we finished the evening strong with a round of DVD bingo. We put the kids to bed and did the same ourselves.
This morning as I read about the wasteful love of the sinful woman, pouring expensive perfume on Jesus, washing His feet with her hair, looking foolish in the eyes of everybody around, I realized my heart is selfish. Not just about cereal... but about a lot of things. You see the woman's act of love was viewed as wasteful by everybody but one person.....Jesus himself. Jesus knows about wasteful love..... It is what defined His life. He being Holy, Perfect, Creator, Sustainer and King, poured out His life, for a sinful woman, for you and for me. I find myself reading this story and wondering how I would of reacted if I was there. But the answer is found in my actions and my heart in something as simple as cereal. When given the opportunity I many times save the good stuff for myself and pour out bowls of the generic to those around me. How different is that from Jesus?..... exactly opposite. You see He lived his life avoiding the brand name stuff all the while living, dying and resurrecting so we could feast on the Smart Start of eternity. He made you and I children, co-heirs, princes and princesses by sacrificing everything. Lord Jesus thanks for using the simple things of this world to make me see your eternal truths and your perfect character. Jesus make my heart like yours. May I love in such a way that I look foolish and wasteful. May I pour out what you have given me into the lives of others and may my joy be found not when my bowl is filled but in the overflowing bowls of those who live their lives around me. Lord forgive me for being so unlike you sometimes.
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