It's An Ongoing Battle of the Tongue

Contentment is an ongoing battle in this household. “Why can’t you just be satisfied with what you have?” Oh if I had a nickel…Last Christmas, Veggie Tales released a new movie, It’s a Meaningful Life, and it dealt with, you guessed it, contentment. Needless to say, I swooped it up, made the popcorn, popped it in and movie night was on in the Stiles house – nothing like a good illustration to drive my point home. The experience would not have been complete without discussion breaks and hypothetical scenarios to practice the valuable lessons we were gleaning from our veggie friends.

As you know, because I’ve told you so many times before, my mouth is another ongoing battle. Not so much in my house as in my life. So being the Good Father that He is, God provided me, the rebellious child, with my own perfect illustration. I doubt that popcorn was a part of the experience, but I know He was watching, and I feel confident He will provide me with real life opportunities to repeat the grace shown to me by sweet Lori, who put out my fiery tongue with syrup and molasses.

We have construction going on in our home right now. It’s been on and off for four years, but it’s been every day since September 1st. Each day is filled with questions, decisions, endless banging, deliveries, catastrophes, and people. People everywhere. We are living in the end days, however, and the finale is in sight. Furniture that has been back ordered for months is slowly trickling in. Our bedroom was finally ready for the new bed. It was the lone piece that had arrived on time way back in October. Since those colorful autumn days the solid frame has been moved from room to room, waiting patiently for its permanent home. Friday was the day. Assembly commenced, but in the end it was not to be. Headboard – one size. Footboard – another. It was the final blow in a day wrought with disaster.

Lori answered the phone of the company who has held my furniture hostage for months and sabotaged the single piece that had made its way home. Within seconds she knew I was angry, no furious, and while I assured her that I meant no harm to her personally I made it clear that I had “Reached the Peak of FRUSTRATION With This Company.” Through angry tears I laid all of my frustrations at Lori’s feet, and in graciousness and calm Lori simply listened. When she finally spoke, her words were gentle and sincere, not at all defensive, or put off. Lori was truly interested in what had gone wrong and even though I had been so ugly, Lori responded beautifully with kind words and a helpful spirit.

My anger subsided. I knew Lori was living out Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and I knew that Jesus was using her to speak into the depths of my soul. I doodle when I’m on the phone and about Lori I wrote, “Jesus used her today.” I don’t know if Lori reacted out of her love for Jesus, good customer service training, or both, but I know, whether she did or not, that Jesus was using her in that moment to minister to a stranger. What a beautiful picture of God’s Word being lived out.

Notice the “heaping coals” I also doodled. It comes from Proverbs 25:21-23, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”

With Much Love,

Tonya