Disappointment

Disappointment

Disappointment

I usually write about good things.  Today, I write about Disappointment.

I am a little ashamed and by way of this letter am spreading the wealth so to speak with my children.

Our family has an elderly friend who for one reason or another has alienated or been alienated by her natural family.  We try to help her out whenever we can.  Usually, it’s small stuff she doesn’t want to be an imposition anymore that we would.  But recently, we (meaning me and my oldest son and daughter) got ‘volunteered’ to do some furniture moving for our friend.

All three of us seemed to take umbrage of it.  Silently rebelling against something we didn’t ‘want’ to do and didn’t ‘volunteer’ for to begin with.  So we drug our feet.  Well yesterday, it came to a head or a halt whichever way you’d like to look at it.  But Cindy told me we need to go help her get this done and we had a little discussion about being ‘volunteered’ for things.

I explained my point of view, and Cindy calmly explained hers.  There’s no snappy joke here about how if Mama’s not happy then no one’s happy so don’t get set to chuckle.  Cindy calmly reminded me that, ‘This woman is old.  She’s alone.  She doesn’t have anyone else and it’s our Christian duty to help her.  After all, one day that could be US in this position.’

There was no denying she was right.  She was dead on.  She spoke the truth.

But I held to my weak little line . . . Well, no one likes to be volunteered . . . and she said ‘OK, I will not volunteer you for anything else.’  End of discussion.  And it was, but I knew I was wrong, I knew she was right.  I knew if there was a winner and loser in this conversation I had lost.  But that isn’t what bothered me.

It was HER look of disappointment in me (in US!).

That look, not even directed at me spoke volumes about the character of the person I was trying to defend.

It didn’t take me long to backtrack and admit that I was wrong.  That is how deeeply that look of utter disappointment on her face pierced my heart.  I was ashamed. 

1 Peter 3:8 NIV states,  Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Yeppers, I’d say I missed the mark.  Wouldn’t you?  Lord, please forgive me.

Sincerely,

Roscoe
(Christian in Training)

PS:  The furniture has been moved.

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5 Comments

    Sheila

    Now why did u have to go and write about this , sometimes we do get lost in this world and we forget that it’s our duty to do the Christian thing , we get comfortable in our own skin .
    I myself find this to be the very truth not thinking about anything else at times just wanting to be able to do as I wish .
    I find myself dealing with such issues more often then I’d like to admit , then this tiny voice in the back of my head shuns me saying what if that were me would anyone help me or do for me .
    I myself am ashamed of not doing more I mean what else did I have to do how much trouble could it have been if nothing else maybe I would have sweated a bit maybe banged a finger or got a small workout from it all .
    Guess sometimes it just takes someone to point out ur wrong turns for u to get back on track so lord I ask that u please forgive my laziness I ask that u inspire me to do more for my fellow brothers and sisters with more understanding and kindness in my heart .
    Thank u dad for showing me the error of my ways once again I love u

      HPBC Author

      Thank you for your honesty Sheila. It says a lot about your character, integrity and your relationship with God.
      I love you too.

    Gene

    All of us have worn the same shoes. How dare someone else attempt to manage my time. Especially when I had something very important planned. That “look of disappointment” is nearly as difficult to swallow as is the “crow”. (Col. 3:17)

      HPBC Author

      And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

      Thank you my friend.

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