Taking Things for Granted

This past weekend, my husband and I once again volunteered in a prison ministry. While we ladies were cooking up tasty homemade meals for the inmates, our men volunteers were with the inmates from morning to early evening.

So, it’s no surprise that prison food is pretty bad. Think of some of the most boring, tasteless school cafeteria meals you've ever had and go a few notches down. Obviously, the inmates were thrilled about the food they received during the weekend. After a taco lunch, one inmate said “I haven’t had a taco for 6 years!” On pizza night, another inmate shared “I haven’t had pizza for 8 years!”  Little things we all take for granted.

The more we’ve been blessed in our lives, the more temptation it is to take things for granted. What does that mean? We underestimate the value of a person or thing. We expect someone or something to be always available. It means to be so sure of having something that we no longer appreciate it.

What do you and I take for granted? Our homes? An income? Our spouses? Our friendships? Our children? Our parents? Our meals? Our clothes? Our cars? Our health? Our safety? I remember a recent trip to Houston after the hurricane really opened my mind to all the things I take for granted. Listening to person after person share stories of losing homes, cars, and basically everything, left its mark on me.

Perhaps, it’s time for us to wake up. For the inmates, they made choices that led to serving prison time. But, maybe they’ve become a bit more appreciative about a simple taco or slice of pizza, because it’s no longer available.

What do you take for granted? Whom do you take for granted in your work, home or friendships? How have you minimized the power, presence and activity of God in your life? Do you assume that life will always be the way it is now? Have you grown so accustomed to the blessings in life that you’ve succumbed to a critical spirit and complaining? This is such a temptation for us as we take things for granted.

Why not start your day with a thankful heart? Look up. Look around. Appreciate. Take in the blessings of your life. They won't always be there.

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” G.K Chesterton

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Judging Others

I can’t imagine how he ended up in a kill pen. How could anyone judge a beautiful black horse like Will and determine his life had no value? Was it his appearance? His gate? His breeding? His skills? I honestly don’t know. I’m just glad he was saved from the kill pen.

At first, Will was very timid, hard to catch and aloof. He had obviously been abused in the past. But now, he’s enjoying a new life at a new farm. And I’m so grateful to get to lease him for a while and shower him with love and acceptance!

Just as Will has been hurt by people who wrongly judged him, so have we. Being judged by others can cut deeply like a knife. We can be judged by our appearance, past or current actions, income, homes, religion, gender identity, politics, and even the friends we keep. And because we humans are so talented at the sport of judging, we do it naturally!

So, how do we judge others? For some, it’s such a normal part of everyday life. Don’t like how someone’s actions at work? Judge. Don’t like how someone handled something 10 years ago? Judge. Don’t like someone’s postings on facebook? Judge. Don’t like peoples’ opinions? Judge. Don’t like peoples’ gender identity? Judge. Disagree with someone? Judge. And we have no earthly idea, the pain we inflict on others.

Of course, we know in life, there is a place for judging others. People must be held accountable. No community can exist where nobody is held accountable. Teachers wouldn’t grade students.  Citizens wouldn't sit on a jury. Employees wouldn’t be held accountable for their work.

Jesus spoke about a different type of judging. He commanded us, “Do not judge.” (Matthew 7:1)  It’s the attitude that we do it with that God is most concerned about…”For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.” (Matthew 7:2) It’s so easy for us dismiss people. This is not the way Jesus handled people. When Jesus told us in the Bible the harsh truth about our sin, He didn’t condemn us, reject us or dismiss us. He brought us close. He invited us to know Him and follow Him. Through Jesus, even as sinners, we can became his friend.

Imagine your relationships if you determined to stop judging people. No more negativity. No more gossip. No more dismissing others. No more cutting others down. No more holding grudges. How would you change? Grace is a beautiful gift to give. We all need extra grace. Just ask Will.

“By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

"If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" Proverbs 11:27 NLT)

"Judging others is a quick and easy way to feel good about ourselves. But that's the problem. God doesn't compare us to them. They are not the standard. God is. And compared to him, Paul argues in Romans 3:12, 'There is no one who does anything good'." Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Road Rage

This week, I experienced a small taste of what some call "road rage." I was driving down the 281S service road and all at once, saw someone edge into my middle lane. If I hadn't slowed down, he would have clipped my car. I honked mostly "defending" the integrity of my car, but partially out of anger. Well, that didn't go over well. The driver of that little Prius decided to play cat and mouse. He'd speed up and then literally stop on the service road, and speed up and stop again. Craziness.

The driver of that little Prius must have been having a very bad, no good day….and did his best to inflict pain on someone else. But, the question is, how did I respond?

It's not easy to turn my back when someone is glaringly wrong. My human nature cries out to want to make right the wrongs. Everything in my spirit felt justified to honk my horn even louder (haha) at this guy.  If only, I had my phone handy to snap a picture of his little Prius license place. If only….

Bad stuff that come out of the blue like this remind me just how much I need God. It's so easy to react rather than act. When I actually calmed down, I thought…

How being "right" is much more fun than being humble.

Being defensive is so much easier than offering kindness.

Getting even is more instinctive than getting humble.

Then, I was convicted. I needed an attitude check. I DID want to be right. I WAS defensive. I DID want to get even. It was such a natural instinct. I'll call it what it is…sin.

I asked God for help in this matter. He directed me to some verses on humility, kindness and patience. Imagine that! He reminded me that I'm called to love others as Jesus loves me, not as they love me.

God seems to provide meaningful life lessons in day-to-day life, doesn't He? There's even lessons after experiencing road rage.

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:9

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Why Not?

I was numb as I sat in my room at a Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center in upstate New York. I read my phone in utter disbelief: At least 50 dead as Gunman Opens Fire on Las Vegas Music Festival.  

We have seen so much horror before our eyes lately. Hundreds of gunshots shot into a concert crowd in Las Vegas. People wading through waist deep waters in Houston. Florida’s Irma. Mexico’s earthquake. Puerto Rico devastated. And on and on....

Our hearts seem to be breaking more and more lately. But, honestly, what can you and I do? How can we make a difference in an increasingly dark world? We can give financially. We can serve in devastated areas. We can pray for those affected by these tragedies. What else?

If you’re stirred by these things as I am, WHY NOT step out in faith over the thing that God is stirring in you? WHY NOT decide to make a difference? WHY NOT take a risk and be determined not to play it safe anymore?

How do we make a difference? 1. Seek God. Tell Him you want to make a difference.
2. Listen. Yes, wait on God and listen to what He might be speaking to you. What comes to your mind? 3. Gather with other like minds to have a conversation. Share your hearts together. 4. Act! Seek to make a difference.

Don’t forget to pay attention to those hurting right around you! God’s word tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)  Oh, may we be sensitive people who love well those that we see every day. There may be people right next to you who have experienced deep trauma and pain. Let’s start by making a difference right where we are.

Dear Father in heaven, Our hearts our broken as we remember one week ago and how this tragedy has forever affected so many people. The loss of life and those wounded is beyond our comprehension. The sorrow and mourning of those grieving is incomprehensible. We pray for healing for the survivors and for their loved ones. We ask God to bring not only physical and emotional healing, but spiritual healing. 

Father, our own anger that we feel is a reflection of how things are not right in this world. Lord, we pray that this anger can ignite in us a greater love and deeper prayer for God’s healing and peace to come during times like this. We pray for our heart to be sensitive to our own sin. Let healing begun with me. Lord, we ask that you would empower us to be a blessing to others. Please show us how.

We pray for all leaders in our country. We pray for their wisdom to navigate the roads ahead. We pray for them all to make wise choices for the safety of our country and its people. We pray for the churches in Las Vegas to be ministers of the gospel during this time.  We ask, Lord, that you would make yourself known in our hearts today. Fix our broken world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end.” Psalm 7:9

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.