Distracted Love

Many years ago I was running an errand to the tax preparer who had an office in the mall. I was a homemaker who didn't have many opportunities to "fix up" with make up and get dolled up very often. I chose a nice outfit, and did my "face"...perfectly lining my lips and filling in w/ my favorite ruby red lipstick. I got the boys all cleaned up and ready to go. We stopped for a drink at the local gas station store. I sipped on my diet Pepsi all the way to the mall. When we arrived I gathered up my tax papers, perfectly placed in a file folder, and held the boys hands through the parking lot. I felt so feminine, so "together". I gave the papers to the young man at the desk and he reviewed them for the correction and signatures. I left and said a friendly good bye. I put the kids back in the car and sat down in the drivers seat feeling accomplished and still put "together". I pulled down the visor mirror and was HORRIFIED! I had a big blot of lipstick from the top of my lip up to the nostrils of my nose. I wanted to cry and then laughed...the boys and I got a kick out the whole affair. Friends, it would of been hard for anyone to notice anything about me...my looks or my love for God because of that horrible distraction. You know the whole office got a kick out of that tax visit.

 

This morning I was sitting with Cory and Kevin at the table and was beginning to tell them about a dream I had. I was sitting there putting my meds in their pill keeper. I was a vision of loveliness with my tousled streaked hair, smeared mascara from yesterday, and well worn night shirt. As I proceeded to tell my story, my husband just blurts out "Dear you have a booger in your nose". WAH! Then the guys bursted out laughing saying "It's kinda hard to listen to you, we are distracted." I took care of the distraction and proceeded with the dream but it didn't seem to be a worthwhile story. I was mortified. Why? I don't know but somehow a "booger" seems so personal.


So why am I telling you all this. Whether you are the distraction or someone else has a distracting situation, it can be hard to love and it can be hard to serve and/or listen. People don't always smell good. They may be disfigured. They may not wear the right clothes, drive the right car, or whatever you may think is "right". They may be mean, arrogant, or bossy. They may be too dark or too light. They may be too fat or deathly thin. Whatever we deem as normal, some people won't be. However, somehow we need to look beyond the distraction and just "love".

I heard a radio preacher say one morning that we don't love out of emotion or feeling, we love because we are to love like Jesus. Jesus went to the broken, the outcast, and the unpopular. I bet some of us don't have to go looking for the unlovable. We have our challenges in the midst of our everyday lives. Who are we to with hold the love of Jesus?

Today, a large mission team from our church went to Jamaica. I have had the pleasure of going for the past two years. I was unable to fulfill my call to go this year, yet another member was able to go in my place. This team will go to a small rural church and teach, sing with, and hug on some very "dark" children. They will have a booger or two. They may not own a toothbrush. Their clothes won't match. They will be loved however with the arms and hugs of Jesus. The team will go to an infirmary for the elderly. It doesn't smell great there. The team will sing hymns, and pass out chewing gum, cookies, and again Jesus' love. The team will visit an old Veteran's home. They will listen patiently to the resident stories as they tell them in their tattered old slippers and pajamas.


Mission work brings valulable lessons of appreciation but more so the encouragement that one can serve and love like Jesus. He can give you strength to love on the unfamiliar as well as the unlovable within your house walls. I know because I am challenged everyday to practice patience and show the love of Jesus to a true rebel and siphon of my energy and my resources. But like Jesus I will never leave him abandoned and alone. It is my hope to equip and encourage him to a responsible, mature individual. Lots of prayer, my dear friends, lots of prayer.


Friends, I want to remind you that you are loved with an everlasting love. Let's get out there and share it. Just remember to carry a tissue for any run ins with "red lipstick" and "boogers". Yuck!

Hope you enjoy this video.  I used to have a 45 record of this.  Anyone remember what a 45 was?