Have you ever been disappointed? Of course you have!...and so have I! In James he reminds us that the source of quarrels is our selfish desires and not getting what we want. I am guilty of being a people pleaser and tend to try to keep people happy. Good or bad? Good in the sense that it helps me feel I am doing good for others. "Acts of service" tends to be my love language and the two may be related. Bad- when I realize that no matter how much or how kind I am to some people...it still isn't enough. People will still find fault. The take home message in all of this is ... everything I do should be done for the glory of God...not myself, nor to make someone happy. Sometimes people don't realize your heart nor its intentions and will still be angry at your attempts. I somehow keep forgetting this important piece of the puzzle that should have been ingrained in me from an early age in public service. No one hardly ever had a simple order in the food industry I grew up in.
"Could I have a Quarter Pounder with mayo..oh, only on one side of the bread please...ketchup, mustard, and pickle. Oh and some fries...extra crispy. Also, could you put that in a bag instead of the usual Styrofoam box because the condensation from the warm food causes my burger to be soggy."
What I wanted to say..." Do you think you really can tell what and how many sides the mayo is slathered on when you chew this? I can serve you a cold burger if you would like to prevent the soggy bread. Sure, I will make sure your fries are burnt."
What I really said "Sure...give us about 15 minutes and we will have it right out (thanks mom)!
The moral of the story...
Don't be a people pleaser...it wears you out!
Don't let preferences rule you...ease up and go with the flow!
Put others desires before your own...not easy to do but so rewarding!
I need to practice what I preach:)
