Ever Have a Day When the Last Straw Broke the Camel’s Back?

Ever have one of those days when, in spite of all your good deeds, good thoughts, good intentions…..that — out of nowhere — you just blow it?

I may give the impression that I’m Pollyannaish (that word is from “Pollyanna,” the heroine of the famous 1913 novel “Pollyanna”, whose outlook on life was one of absolute optimism and whose problems were always straightened out in the end). And, being Pollyannaish is what I strive to be. Actually, that’s not it — I desire to be a FULLY devoted follower of Christ — which means I strive to be like HIM!

But on Thursday…..I really blew it. I have had challenges and concerns regarding my home’s construction. I’ve conceded to many things that should have been done, but weren’t, and closed my eyes to other issues that I just gave to God. I typically say, “In the light of eternity…..does it really matter?” But, having been promised a specific, important thing and waiting for over a year to get it done, it was finally done on Thursday — but completely incorrectly. It was “the final straw that broke the camel’s back” to me. I totally shocked myself as I went into a tirade — ranting and raving about this misdeed. I drove off, and immediately, I heard that still, small, but loud and clear, voice say, “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Aargh! I knew I had to get a grip and apologize….. and I did. While I was saying, “I apologize for exposing my last straw”, the other person. who is also a Christian, quickly apologized back to me, and within just a short while had the situation, I had waited on for over a year….completely corrected and completed.

Why did I tell you this story? As long as we’re in these earth suits, we have the ability to fail, make mistakes, miss the mark, and just “lose it”. But the more we strive to be like Him who was without fault, the more of His characteristics we’ll possess. How thankful I am, that He who I desire to be like the most, so quickly forgives me when I falter, and is WHO I want to immulate when I need to forgive. How sweet this life is…..when each time we fall, we can get back up again and be better than before. Donnie McClurkin wrote a song that said, “We fall down, but we get up. We fall down, but we get up. For a Saint, is just a Sinner who fell down….and got up!” I love this chorus — listen and feel what I felt….when I fell down and got back up!