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Erica sang mechanically. Sometimes she wondered why she even made the effort. There wasn't a song in her heart. Her mind whirled as she thought of the argument that she and Josh had had that morning. It was only one of many that continuously flared between them. Arguments over things that had no eternal significance. What difference did it make if a little water got on the floor from her shower? Josh was just so picky! She glanced furtively at her boyishly handsome husband of five years. His tanned features were a stark contrast to his slightly tousled blond hair. He seemed oblivious to her presence beside him. He sang with the same gusto with which he approached every area of his life. Resentment welled within her as her eyes brimmed with tears. Didn't he know how much he hurt her every time he offered his critical correction? She wasn't a child. She needed someone to love her. Someone to make her feel special, tell her how beautiful she was, bring her real flowers, and take her out for fun. The music ended. Automatically she positioned her body away from Josh. With a sigh she prepared for another boring sermon. It wasn't that Pastor John was boring; he just never seemed to say anything that made much difference, at least not to her. She turned to the announced scripture as mechanically as she had sung. Psalm 22:26 "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live forever." What was Pastor John saying? "Meekness is perhaps the lest understood of all the fruit of the Spirit. It is best described as power under control." Erica was startled by the thought. A meek person was a person of strength? Pastor John continued. "I like to think of meekness this way: A racehorse, standing at the starting gate, muscles rippling, waiting for a command from the jockey. That is the picture of power under control. "A meek person has the strength to act but patiently waits for the Holy Spirit to direct his or her every move. "Meekness does not consist of outward behavior alone nor does it only refer to relationships with others. It is an inward working of grace in the mind, will and emotion, toward God. A person of meekness realizes that God uses the everyday stresses of life to perfect His children. As they submit to His will they are made stronger." By now, Pastor John had Erica's undivided attention. He continued. "A person is not meek because he cannot help himself. He is meek because his only interest is fulfilling the will of God, regardless of what others think or how he may personally be inconvenienced. He is a true seeker after God. He is humble. He accepts God's dealings with him as being just and good. "This attitude extends into the everyday lifestyle of the meek. Insults and unjust criticisms are accepted as an occasion to grow and mature in God. These folk view the incident as one that God has sovereignly permitted. "We find this abundantly borne out in the life of Jesus." Conviction welled in Erica. With tears running copiously down her face she fled to the altar. Her slender shoulders shook as she poured out the contents of her heart. Months of built up anger, resentment, bitterness, self-pity, ... the list was so long... but as she repented the cleansing blood of Jesus reached into the deepest recesses of her soul. For the first time in a long time Erica felt clean. The love she so hungered for now resided in her heart. Slowly she became of aware of Josh praying softly beside her. She reached for his hand and together they stood. As she turned toward him she found her slight frame smothered in his strong, muscular arms. A fresh wave of tears flowed from her as he held her against his chest, his face buried in her chestnut hair. As her tears subsided she raised her face toward him. She started to say, "I'm so sorry," but her words were cut short as his lips brushed them away with his own, "Me too." Later, walking hand in hand toward their car Josh stooped down and picked a few violets growing alongside the parking lot. He turned toward Erica and tucked them into her hair. With a crooked grin he said, "How about lunch at Niemerg's, Beautiful?"
Article Source: http://christian-topics.info
Willetta is a former retired pastor and author of three websites. she lives with her husband of 54 years. She teaches the flagship SS class of her local church. Her websites are www.teachmethyways.org/ www.successwithkids.org/ www.theseedsower.org/
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