I have been thinking
on how easily we can influence one another for good or bad. The
reason I got thinking on this was due to an incident involving my
large walk- in pantry that had been sadly neglected for the past few
years, and my husband who is exceptionally patient, and never nags.
He could have gotten annoyed with me and told me to clean the pantry
up, or at least asked me to.. but instead he took the initiative to
help give some much needed incentive to this unmotivated wife…
Due to being
distracted in various ways over the past few years, my pantry had
become very neglected, cluttered and downright grungy. Well, my
husband decided to take matters into his own hands in regard to my
pantry, and instead of nagging me to clean it up, he obtained a shelf
unit with cupboard doors, had our son paint it and make some
beautiful wooden pine shelving for it and then tore out a section of
my pantry and installed this lovely looking cabinet in its place.
I was delighted- and
then I looked at the rest of my cluttered and dirty shelves, and I
just could not be content to leave them in the state they were in
with that beautiful looking, freshly painted cabinet standing there
in stark contrast to them. So, I cleaned off, and cleaned up all the
rest of the shelves that were in the worst shape and my husband
painted them for me. It took some time to get everything all
organized and back on the shelves, but what a difference. I didn’t
get the whole pantry done, but I am certainly better motivated to
tackle the rest of it now that I can see what a fantastic improvement
has already taken place. Had my husband gotten annoyed with me, and
nagged me into cleaning up the pantry, I either would have tried to
convince him I had too many other things to do right now or gone and
done it with a (probably) not so great attitude. I might have even
ended up being annoyed with him rather than so very pleased and
thankful for such a thoughtful (and clever) hubby. :)
I am always
comparing the physical to the spiritual in life and this little
episode made me think of how easily we can influence one another for
good or bad. As Christians we should desire to influence others for
good, and do so in a way that would motivate them to want to do good.
If we condemn and berate others for their wrong actions, we certainly
won’t influence them toward doing what is right. We may just end up
being a huge stumbling block in one’s walk of faith, or a deterrent
to one even desiring to walk in the faith. A warm, friendly, and
helpful demeanor will accomplish far more than a cold, stern, and
condemning attitude. Another good thing to remember is that our good
influence on others should always begin within our own homes and work
out from there.
Just as my husband motivated me to want to clean up my pantry
by giving me a head start, so we should try to motivate others to do
good and please God through their actions, by living in such a way as
to motivate them toward actions that are pleasing to God as well.
Matthew 5:14-16 reads as follows, “You are the light of the
world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a
lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to
all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.”
“So then, as
we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to
those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians
6:10).
No comments:
Post a Comment