Monday, March 12, 2012 - Buff Enough

     There's a long streak of harmless aggravation on my dad's side of the family. He himself loved to tell us kids on Christmas Eve that he was going to sit up all night to keep anyone from breaking into our house. He had a twinkle in his eye when he woke non-morning family members with cheerful greetings like "Good morning, Sunshine! Rise and Shine! Time to start a new day!" It's part of my dad I wouldn't trade for the world. Good memories.  
    As good as my dad was, my uncle Ronnie was the king of aggravation. He stirred the pot and laughed, called us goofy names, made fun of us, mimicked us, or simply held us in headlocks while we fought helplessly to get loose. We loved it all and begged for more.
   Strangely enough, it was never as funny or harmless when we kids (and it was usually me) aggravated each other. Things quickly turned serious; an adult was called to step in and review the situation. Invariably, as we worked our way back through the chain of events, someone (again, usually me) was pronounced as the one who "started it." Yesterday's blog addressed not being the instigator, but how are we to respond when someone else "yanks our chain?"

   "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another 

if any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful."  

Colossians 3:12-15

     Father, before the stirrers stir or we're surprised by a headlock, help us anchor ourselves in Your Peace to the point of being imperturbable. Show us how to wrap ourselves in Your garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and still be thankful when someone gets our goat. Train us to be buff enough to bear with each other and big enough to forgive. Out of our spiritual wardrobes, wrap us in Your overcoat of Love so we do and say what leads to "perfect unity."