They are new every morning…

We were on a road trip yesterday morning.  We left while it was still dark outside.  I noticed the sun coming up as we were deciding when to pull off and enjoy a Waffle House breakfast where I was excited to order a pEcan waffle with coffee.  Before we pulled off though, I made the comment that I much prefer sunrises than sunsets.  I asked Josh which one he preferred.  He wasn’t sure which one was his favorite and began telling me the positives of each one.  I can understand the indecisiveness on the question.  They are both breath-takingly beautiful in their own ways.  They paint such different pictures in the sky.  But for me, sunrise wins, hands down.  And here’s why–  I’m needy.

 

That’s right.  Right there is why sunrise gets my vote.  What is new every morning?  The Lord’s compassions.  And I’m in need of His unfailing compassion.

The destiny of our road trip was the Space Center.  We learned that if you are an astronaut training for being in space, you spend time at The IN SPACE SIMULATOR.  On the simulator you are traveling in such a way that the sun rises 16 times in a regular day!  I thought to myself that this is the place I need to move to because that is how needy I am and how often I need to remember that His compassions never fail….they are new every morning!

As a matter of fact, I was trying to wait until life was a little closer to perfect than it has been lately before sharing any spiritual insight or inspiration.  But I was reminded that life is real.  It’s hard.  And sometimes it is real hard.  But there is always the sunrise of another day that gives me hope!  Hope in the Lord and His promises.  I am thankful for His faithfulness, His amazing capacity to love me,  and the way He can bring light to the dark nights.

When life seems dark, I’m reminded that it was Jesus who touched the blind man and made him see.  I’m reminded of John 7 when the Feast of Tabernacles was winding down, pilgrims were taking down their lamps and heading for home, and Jesus said to those still around, “I am the Light of the World. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of Life.”  I’m needy for a touch from The Lord.  I’m needy for Him to be the Light of Life to me!

When the evil one brings on accusations of all manner, I am reminded of the woman caught in adultery.  She was brought to Jesus and all eyes were on her and on Him. What He wrote in the sand, I do not know, but I do know this–the accusers scattered quickly!  Then, it was just her and Jesus.  He gave her such hope.  She was not just the culmination of all of her sins. His compassions never fail.  I need Him to meet me with compassion when I blow it with the kids or have a critical spirit towards someone or get frustrated with my husband or….any other thing I do that Satan reminds me of at a point of weakness.

Oh, to be so compassionate.  To be so forgiving.  What must it look like to ooze this kind of graciousness and love?

This road trip I told you about?  The one that started early and sparked the conversation about sunrises and The Lord’s compassions never failing?  Yeah, well, it ended up being a long ride home.  There was an accident on the way back, so we sat in traffic a long time.  Someone got hungry.  Someone got tired.  Someone had been behind the wheel a long time. Someone has a wife that makes too many “suggestions” about his driving.  The rest of us were fine.  I mean, there were movies and naps and fruit roll ups and another nap and another movie.  What did we have to be frustrated about?  Happy, happy road trip.

So when we finally made it home, someone just basically went to bed.  I turned around and found him to be in the bed.  He was grumpy.  He was short with us.  He was done.

I was not happy.  I didn’t say anything though.  If there is anything I have learned in marriage, you do NOT try to resolve an “issue” in the evening when one of you has already laid his head down on a pillow…and you know he is tired and hungry.

Then, the sun began to rise.

I awoke.  Josh awoke (no need to use the “someone” business anymore!).  He came on down the stairs,obviously refreshed,  gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, “I’m sorry I was such a bear last night.”  I smiled, and he walked to his office.

But, wait.  Was I just going to let it go?  I mean.  Didn’t we need to go over what he did wrong exactly?  Don’t we need to hash out how he hurt my feelings so that he can work really hard to never do that again???  Don’t we??

See, I want the Lord to really mean I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I mean, is it really that straight-forward?  Confess your sins; He forgives you.

Yes.  That is true.  So, what about me?  I know I am not Jesus, but Jesus lives in me.  “To live is Christ.”

Soooo, this morning, why didn’t I respond with compassion?  Why did I hold my hurt feelings in one hand and Josh’s apology in the other and take a few minutes to weigh them out?

“He was pretty mean.”

“But he did just say he was sorry.”

“Yeah, but he went straight to sleep without so much as a word.”

“But he was so tired, and he did just say he was sorry.”

“I’m not sure I can just let it go so easily.”

“Oh, look Kristy, is that the sun rising out the window?  Take a look.”

I had to ask myself and will continue to ask myself, “Do I just like sunrises because of the compassions that wait for ME because I realize how needy I am of The Lord’s lovingkindnesses and forgiveness?  Or am I looking forward to sunrises because it is another day that I can display The Lord’s compassions and lovingkindnesses and forgiveness to others?  Starting with my family!

Colossians 3:12-14 ” So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kinds, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also must you.  Beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond on unity.”