Beyond Common Sense

I learned SO many lessons last Friday!  Tom and I drove a dear lady from our church to Philadelphia where she will begin radiation treatments after the holidays.

First, may I say, as we drove by the Children’s Hospital and then to the Perelman Center, I thank God that I have never had to be to either of those facilities personally.  Even as I write this, I can’t help thinking about those who are dealing with such difficult circumstances while I sit here healthy and cozy in my little corner of the world.  God alone has the exact amount of grace we need in every situation.

But one of the most interesting lessons I learned was from Matilda.  She’s the lady that tells us where to go – or better said: our GPS voice.  (Why is it always a woman’s voice?  Is it because men love it when women to give them directions?!  NOT!) What a wonderful tool! We would have literally been lost without her.  In fact, on the way home, she was trying to help us out by sending us on an alternate route.  By that time, we knew where we were going and ignored her advice until we came to the traffic jam she was helping us to avoid.  Then things got really dicey!  I was driving and took the wrong exit.  (That really shook her up!)  That was after the driver that was also taking the exit at ninety miles an hour behind me nearly hit me and then communicated his thoughts to me on his horn. However, it was only a little snag and soon we were on the right way once again – thanks to Matilda!

You know, she never raised her voice.  She never called us names.  She was never frustrated or thought that we were idiots!  No cursing or swearing or POUTING!  No silent treatment!  All she would say was “system reprocessing.”  What a wonderful example.

Yes, I realize that she does not have feelings or a mind or a will in the matter, but it was a rebuke to me to be more careful with my actions – and even more: my reactions!

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1