4 Little Words

In my Christian journey there have been 4 little words that have made the biggest impact in my life. I have been reflecting lately on what my life would have been like if my dear friend Zoila (I miss you, and am jealous that you are with Jesus) would not have said them to me many times. I now find myself saying these words to others, and I realize that even though they were said to me in the context of my marriage they fit in every aspect of my life.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

In the years that we were struggling in our marriage I would go to Zoila for guidance and to complain about Jason and she would simply look at me and lovingly ask, "but Carrie, What are you doing?" I would get so mad at her for saying that but I knew she was right. No matter what was being done to me I was also contributing to the situation. I now look at other areas of my life and ask the same question. When I'm driving down the road and someone cuts me off and I get angry and I can feel the road rage begin I ask, "What am I  doing?" When I am irritated with my teenagers not communicating with me or being disrespectful or disobedient, I pause and ask ,"What am I doing?"

  Matthew 7:2-5 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?"

It is so easy for us to point the finger at the other person when we are offended or hurt but we must remember that we too are guilty. We are guilty by how we react to that offense or hurt. So before you jump to a reaction ask yourself, "What am I doing?" make sure there is no plank in your own eye before you start pointing out the speck in your brother's or sister's eye.