Let it go!

I can let little things annoy me and they really shouldn’t. My kids get mortified if I point out a mistake with a cashier that amounts to a whopping 23 cents in my favor. Was it that big of a deal? No. But in my mind, it was the principle of the matter. And if I ever attempt to have my order corrected at a restaurant because the steak or eggs were not done as requested, my children beg me to just let it go. But, hey, I worked for several years as a short order line cook, so I know how it should be done!

But what about when I feel someone slighted me even just a little bit? At times, I can let that gnaw at me and may even call them out on it. My level-headed, Godly wife informs me that I need to let things go and not get so worked up over them. She’s right! Most of the things I get worked up over aren’t worth getting worked up over. It simply creates extra stress in my life. And why am I worried about what so and so thinks anyway? I only need to worry about honoring God and representing Him well.

I’m working on getting to the place where I can listen to even mean-spirited criticism and sift through it to see if there is anything of value that will help me become more like Jesus. I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m hopeful that I’ll get there at some point. Even mean-spirited criticism can have a nugget of truth for my personal growth.

I’m not saying that we should never lovingly confront someone who has hurt us. That can be helpful to the other person and their personal growth as well if done properly. But for me, I know there are times I allow non-issues to become an issue. Things that should be no big deal, become a big deal. The rain drop that I should let slide off my back like a duck, I let soak in like a sponge and every drop after that becoming unnecessarily weighed down with unhealthy emotions.

The Bible speaks to this issue directly and I’ve decided to put one of those verses to memory— Proverbs 19:11. “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Imagine if our current culture put that verse to practice? Imagine if we as believers consistently lived that out? I wonder if the apostle Paul had this proverb in mind when he wrote to the church in Ephesus, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Some things, probably a lot of things, just aren’t worth getting worked up over. So let’s practice patience with each other. We’re all kind of like road construction. It can be annoying and requires patience, but when the work is done, we’re all grateful for it. And if you see me, feel free to ask me to quote Proverbs 19:11. It will keep me accountable.

Blessings to you as you journey with Jesus till He leads us home!