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I had deeper thoughts on the way in this morning. I was listening to LaCrae's "I used to do it too" song, of which I previously loved the bouncy beat, and kinda the idea of the song. Today it struck a cord, and I thought about inner change. We have a tendency to hold people at our first impression of them,or sometimes, their worst impression. Once they're late a couple times, we grow to expect and label them a little rude. Once they say a few off color or picking things, we think of them as sharp. But people change. Some are quick, some are gradual. Yesterday was my 2-year anniversary of deciding to get baptized, and soon after, go to counseling, and I was aware of serious change within a few months. I truly believe God used these for change. Although I feel I was a Christian throughout this time, I know that I learned things that allowed change to happen. So, my point is, I'm sure this happens to others, and people I know.
What if we don't notice? As an example, what if someone changed their habits, ate well, exercised, slept well, and therefore lost 50 lbs. Would we still treat them like nothing happened? Would we still offer them junk food and buy them clothes that used to fit them? How discouraging would that be! I want to strive to be aware of when inner change is happening, even though it's not as obvious as outer change. I want to be encouraging, eat well with them (yes I mean things like read the Bible), and not remember their "bad habits" that they're working on. Keep them accountable, but not hold them to a personality when they're working on their character. Of course this isn't easy, but I want to work on it!
And on a wedding note, I hope to do that with my family, my future family, and my future husband. I so appreciate his kind words and encouragement when I'm working on things in my life.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Ephesians 4:31-32
4 days!!!!!!!
