photo: canva.com
Steady Freddy.
That is someone who doesn’t get flustered or ruffled.
His emotions are stable.
There is no up or down with him.
Each day is similar to the day before.
In many ways, I married a steady Freddie.
I, on the other hand, am not.
I am a Tempermental Tessy.
I am delighted one day, and the next I’m in the pits.
I have tried to learn to behave in a way that doesn’t convey
All my feelings to those around me.
It’s not their fault that I’m am in the pits today.
It’s not their fault that everything sets me off today.
So I have had to learn to behave in a way toward people that is kind…
No matter how I feel.
It has been necessary because of my husband’s profession as a pastor. stop
When people call the house, I need to be kind to them because I represent Jesus to many of them.
I also need to do it because I am a Christian.
I represent Jesus because of that too!
I needed to behave this way because of my profession as well.
I am a nurse.
I work with sick people…and their families.
It isn’t their fault I’m in a bad mood.
I need to be kind to them.
So as time has gone on,
There are people who actually think I am steady.
I’m really not.
Inside, I question myself constantly.
I’m often a bundle of nerves.
I am up. I am down.
But I am also “in Christ.”
The Holy Spirit lives in me.
As a result, I live out the fruit of that relationship:
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Each day…and in each situation, I choose to live out this fruit.
Of course, I fail too.
But I’m thankful for the reminders that come in the form of the Spirit’s words
They come to me quietly, but mostly as He reminds me of GOD’s Word.
“Yes, he is speaking down to you, but you don’t have to react. You know who you are in Christ You have nothing to prove. You can simply answer his question without any sarcasm. Be patient with him. Show him the love of Christ. Use the self-control that only I can give. Be kind.
“Yes, her anger at you is unfair, but you don’t have speak back to her in kind. You know who you are in Christ. You can respond in a way that won’t ratchet up the situation. You can be kind, realizing she is also under stress and she may not have the Lord to help her deal with it. You are free to love her in a way that will help her move toward Jesus instead of away from Him.”
We often feel we must defend our rights. But what did Jesus do when it came to His rights? He laid them aside because he had a bigger purpose. We need to think about that. He was the ultimate of steady!
So if there is any encouragement in Christ,
any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit,
any affection and sympathy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11
Good reminder!
Such good words, Martha. How important it is that we be gracious in our dealings with others. I”m sometimes more of a Tess than a Freddy. But God is helping me with that. Having boys who watch my example helps me think through my words, especially when I’m frustrated about a situation. 🙂
Fortunately, i married a freddy. i’m much more of a tess…naturally. but GOD has been working on me too! thankfully. He is so gracious that way isn’t He? i’m so glad you stopped by jeanne:)
Great reflections as always, Martha! People often remark that I am steady because I can come across that way, even when I’m really not inside. My challenge is to learn when I need to express the turmoil abd to find a healthy way to do that instead of holding it all inside.
you are so right. there certainly need to be people we can be honest with for sure. i am fortunate to have those people. it doesn’t take many. i also don’t want people to think i don’t have feelings. that robotic view of christians is not good, nor is it true.
A good and necessary reminder to mind my manners, considering others better than I am because of all the Lord has done, does, and will do for me — and for the person who’s so annoying!
I am at the age and stage where losing my charm because I am annoyed, don’t feel so swell, creates a false sense of entitlement to give people a piece of my mind — not cute, not funny — and I don’t have that much left to spare!
God bless!
bwsmith
i can identify with the desire barbara. feel lousy, don’t feel like tolerating the people around me. ugh! it takes the grace of GOD enabling me to be kind for sure, doesn’t it:(
I think I am a Temperamental Tessy too. It is a constant struggle. Thankfully, God has always revealed His hand in my life and for that I am forever grateful.
thanks for stopping by vernette:) it is fortunate GOD shows His presence in our lives isn’t it? what a grace!
I can so relate to this! I react the same way as you (but have to stay calm because of my job – I’m an OT in palliative care – and because of my Christianity) and have a husband rather like yours. I have very similar conversations with God about how to react to others too.
Visiting from FMF #70
blessings liz:) i love the title of your blog! so glad you stopped by.
One of the most crucial things we can do is learn to understand ourselves and accept ourselves as we are! Sounds like your passion, creativity and directness are an asset when understood without the defensiveness but as the beauty with which you were created!
em, we have been created with much beauty for sure! it’s also mixed with much brokenness as well. i’m glad doesn’t leave us the way we are, no matter how well we have learned to accept ourselves. He keeps stretching us and moving us to places we need to move and grow by His grace!