An Attitude Check!

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
August 9, 2023
1 John 3:18-20

There are days when I struggle with selfishness. For the most part, it plays out in my attitude which is closely connected to my motives for doing or not doing something. The other day, I was trying to get myself together to get several household tasks taken care of, when my sweet and generous husband interrupted and before you know it I got sidetracked and wound up doing some of the tasks he started. To be honest, I think he sees that as a demonstration of my tendency to take control . I am guessing that I am not the only one who deals with this issue, so, take heart, God has a plan.

Our Scripture for today comes from the Apostle John; “Dear children [that includes you and me ], let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything”.

Yep, God knows everything. He is very familiar with my attitudes and motives. I decided I needed an attitude check and suddenly the words came into my mind: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” (from the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning). True to form, I tweeked the next line and said out loud for our cat to hear, “I love thee by putting the clean sheets on the bed. I love thee by finishing the dishes. I love thee by putting the wet laundry that you started in the dryer. I love thee by cleaning the Kitty Litter EVERY DAY… You get the idea. Before you know it, I heard my selfish attitude and decided to change it. Elizabeth’s words are more in line with God’s;

“I love thee to the depth and breadth and height (My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight) For the ends of being and ideal grace. (I love thee to the level of every day’s) Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. (I love thee freely, as men strive for right.) I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. (I love thee with the passion put to use) In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. (I love thee with a love I seemed to lose) With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, (Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose) I shall but love thee better after death”.

Amen.