The Importance of Being There
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.—2 John 1:12 (NIV)
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.—COLOSSIANS 3:12 NIV
Caregivers usually don’t have much time to tend to their wardrobes—especially when things are really whirling out of control. We rush from place to place, hardly paying attention to our attire. Only when we catch a glimpse of ourselves in a mirror (or see ourselves in photographs) do we realize we’ve let things slip. Even then, we rarely have time to fret over the fact. Instead, we’re back to work, caring for others.
Our external attire is somewhat important—but God longs for us to pay close attention to a completely different type of clothing. He’s more interested in how we are dressed internally. Have we clothed ourselves with compassion? What about kindness? Are gentleness and patience a wardrobe “must”? These are the things the Lord checks out as we walk down the runway of our lives.
The next time you go to your closet to dress, take a moment to give God control of your inner wardrobe, too.
Dear Lord, I want to be clothed in kindness and compassion. I want my gentleness, patience, and humility evident to others. Clothe me today from the inside out.
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.—2 John 1:12 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.—2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV)
The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.—Proverbs 19:8 (NIV)