I’ve borrowed this title from a chapter in Barbra Johnson’s book “Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and be Happy”! As a Christian author she fought with her publishers to keep this title…and I’m glad she did! Because the truth of the matter is—it is easy to be caught up in a cycle of the “same old doo doo”!
What does it take to change or break the cycle of the “same
old same old”?
Do we really have a say or a choice in the matter?
Truth is—we always have a choice! Even in the things we have
no control over, we still have choices.
No, we don’t have control over such things as sickness and
decease, an unfaithful spouse, divorce, children who don’t want to follow Jesus
or obey God—but we do have a choice in how we are going to respond and handle the
uncontrollable things of life.
And then there are the many things we do have control over,
yet we sit and do nothing to make change.
Why is that? Why do we as Believers prefer to stay in a bad
place versus make change?
Some of us like living in the “same old doo doo” because it
gives us something to talk about. It has become our normal and a comfort zone
for us. Yes, there are those of us in the Kingdom who relish being the martyr
or victim. We thrive off the sympathy of others, and rebel at sound Biblical
advice that would help us make change in our lives.
There will always be baby Christians among us (people get
saved everyday) and it does take time for them to get their bearings before
they begin to grow in the things of the Lord. We also have those that need more
time to get serious. (That was me. Jesus was my Savior but not my Lord right
away.) And then we have the ones who just love staying where they are. It is
easier for them to waddle in the doo doo of their lives versus work to make
change. We all know someone like that or maybe if we take a good look in the
mirror we’ll see, it’s us!
God made women to be nurturing and compassionate creatures.
But what we do with our nurturing and compassion often lies solely upon us. And
are we always the wisest in how we use these attributes? Maybe not.
One of the biggest injustices we can do to each other is become
enablers for those who need a swift kick! A spiritual kick that is. J
I’ve seen it time and time again, in real time and on Facebook,
that person who is always complaining about their lives and other people—consistently
the martyr. Yet, they profess to be a Christian and have been for years…but
there is no growth or real fruit. And what do friends and family do? Pour out
the sympathy. And that is exactly what they are looking for—this is what they
feed off. And let one person step up and say what needs to be said, and they
are counted as insensitive and unfeeling. (Even the truth in love, may not be
pleasant.)
One day I woke up and didn’t want to live in the same old
doo doo different day anymore. But it took time and people praying for me to
get to that point. And then one day I had to learn not to be an enabler for
others.
When a person is not ready to make change there is nothing
we can really do about it, except pray for them and continue to give them sound
Biblical advice. But we must stop petting folks up—enabling them to remain
comfortable to stay where they are.
True, we must be kind to one another, but we must also care
enough to not want to see a sister waddle in her mess. Would we let a baby wear
the same soiled diaper day after day? No, because eventually it would not only
be painful for them but become toxic—same for us!
What I have learned over the years, is when you continue to
speak God’s truth to someone who claims to be a Believer yet wants to stay
where they are, one of two things happens. Either there is change or they leave
you alone.
Without a doubt we all know doo doo stinks! But like most
odors, if you are around them long enough, you can become so used to it that it
no longer offends you. And that’s what has happened to some of the Saints!
Waddling in the poop of “woe-is-me”, we’ve become immune to the stench and what
it really looks like to others.
If you are an enabler, it’s time for a new strategy to help
the one you have been enabling.
And sisters, if you love playing the martyr or victim, and
are always singing the “somebody-done-me-wrong song” it’s time you get over it
and make change in your life.
When we are always complaining and crying the blues and yet confess
to be a Jesus follower it’s a poor example to the world. When we perpetuate a life, which to onlookers
is so hard and joyless—why should they want our Jesus? And most of all, we end
up living a life void of all the Cross affords us—and that’s a lot!
Same old “Doo Doo” different day shouldn’t be the life of
any Believer. It is by choice only!
Let us remember the words of our Father, “I put before you
life and death. Choose life!”
No comments:
Post a Comment