Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the LORD declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
1 Samuel 2:30 NIV
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I wanted to continue on the thought about being the 'bigger person' because I recognize that being the 'bigger person' takes more than an overnight decision to change. Change comes from a thought, a choice and a decision, no doubt, but if I know anything, I know about the poison that tries to drown out good decisions, making it increasingly difficult to change.
What poison am I talking about? The same poisons I have been talking about from the beginning - unforgiveness, baggage, anger, insecurity, jealousy, bitterness and lack of self-control. These issues have a direct correlation with your inability to exhibit patience and be the 'bigger person' in every situation.
Let's use me as an example, because I have no shame. When I first got married, I was travelling heavy with a lot of baggage that I had tucked away so securely, I was bursting out at the seams and didn't even know it. Anyway, for those of you who know my husband, he's a fairly peaceful, quiet guy. Quite the opposite of me at times. So when he would confront me about matters that needed to be discussed, I would automatically get my back up (Sound familiar anyone?). Not because he was being rude or disrespectful but because I had a problem with being challenged. I would feel like "who's this guy talking to?" and of course, that thought would come out in my speech and actions.
Needless to say, it created a lot of issues at the beginning of out marriage. But to be fair (to me lol), I really didn't know any better. Most behaviour's are learned through observation and/or experience and I had become so accustomed to doing things my way and being my own authority. Being the 'bigger person' challenged my vulnerabilities and my insecurities.
As I said before, learning to be the 'bigger person' has been my challenge because it meant submitting, respecting and honouring my husband and God through my obedience. I had to learn that all from scratch and that meant unloading all of my junk, day by day. I'd say I'm about 80% there but I definitely still have my 'old Margo' moments.
WWJD (what would Jesus do) is such a precise question/statement to live by. I used to laugh it, excusing myself by saying 'well, I'm not Jesus.' But I've come to realize that the statement isn't really saying 'be like Jesus' but rather it's encouraging you to be the 'bigger person', walk in love, forgive, treat people as you want to be treated and honour God in everything you do. WWJD helped to keep me on my path of righteousness any time challenging situations faced me.
So I would encourage you to put WWJD in your Positive Thought Rolodex (PTR). And next time someone takes your parking spot or brushes you the wrong way, ask yourself 'What would Jesus do?' Then smile... and walk away.
Be Blessed in HONOURING GOD IN EVERYTHING YOU DO
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