What Have You Tolerated Far Too Long?

As a follow-up to Dolly's "dumb blonde" joke and story from my blog yesterday, I thought I’d share one of mine. A blonde tells her doctor that her body hurts wherever she touches it. She touches her knee and yelps. Touches her ankle and shrieks. Touches her elbow and screams. The doctor looks at her and says, “There’s nothing wrong with you in all those places. The truth is -- your finger is broken!” As silly as that dumb joke is, the message is clear -- she tolerated the pain way too long. I was reminded of that joke when I was having terrible pain in the arch of my foot. I did what I could to remedy the pain but it wouldn’t go away. I tolerated that pain for a couple of weeks.

It’s Friday of Thanksgiving week. My kids and I are sitting in my living area. That foot is throbbing. I rub the arch area to try to lessen the pain. Suddenly I feel a little pinhead-size spot. I ask my daughter to look at it and she sees a bump with a black dot surrounded by red infected skin. Then, I remember several weeks ago when my foot rubbed across the edge of my coffee table that I felt a prick. I noticed the table's edge was slivered. I never thought something went into my foot. As I did with my kiddos when they got a splinter in their hand, I burn the end of a needle to sterilize it. Staci digs (ouch) and digs (whine). She shouts: “I got it!” It is a quarter-inch sliver of wood that had been embedded, causing me misery that I tolerated for weeks. Not five minutes later, the pain is gone. Free at last!

Long story, but I believe that God is nudging me to share it. I sense there are those who have tolerated and put up with nagging pain, nagging relationships, nagging financial woes, and nagging concerns for what tomorrow holds. Those tolerations can bleed us of energy and make it impossible for us to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be. It’s really difficult to live a happy, successful, fulfilling life when we’re spending all our energy tolerating things that shouldn’t be tolerated. Sometimes we simply need to put our foot down, or in my case – put my foot up so someone can get the “nagging” issue out for me.

I have no idea what you may be tolerating in your life, but I encourage you today to get help from a close “someone” like I did with my daughter or better yet, seek help from God to help you dig out what you have tolerated too long. Pray for God’s wisdom and Holy Spirit’s guidance to help you get out of the “tolerating” mode into a joy-filled life of freedom. It starts with you. Don’t tolerate a negative attitude. Don’t tolerate judging and gossiping. Get caught up in being thankful and being way nicer than necessary. (Go see “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and try to be NICE like Mr. Rogers!).

Don’t tolerate self-deprecating thoughts. Don’t tolerate living in the past. Don’t tolerate being too busy to appreciate life’s sweetness. Don’t tolerate worry – find something to be grateful for. Don’t tolerate people who make you feel worthless. Stand your ground and if need be, let them walk away rather than all over you. Don’t tolerate dishonesty in life and business. Our reputation and integrity is always more important than our next paycheck. Don’t tolerate anger, arguments, grudges, and resentments. Don’t tolerate unforgiveness. Forgive others, not because they deserve it but because you deserve peace. Don’t tolerate anything that takes away your peace. It is the single most required fruit of the Spirit that I demand in my life. I know how to walk away from anything that tries to take it away.

I could go on and on about what we have tolerated far too long, but I know you get the message. It’s a new day when freedom can be ours as we refuse to tolerate those things that shouldn’t be tolerated any longer. Freedom is oh so beautiful!

It’s Baby Jesus AND Santa Time!

When I put Santa and Jesus in the same paragraph in my post a few days ago, I honestly quivered. It made me stop and think about how we boosted the support of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to our children since they were infants and could barely see or hear. They learned that a mysterious guy in a red and white suit could see them when they’re sleeping and are awake. He even sees them when they’re good and bad, so we reinforce that they’d better be good….for goodness sake. We even take them to see Santa and encourage them to tell him what they want for Christmas. And, if that’s not enough…..we tell them that he’s coming down the chimney and he’ll show up with their wishes – so they must be sure to leave cookies for him because he’ll be very hungry as he flies in a reindeer-driven sleigh, delivering his gifts to children all over the world. And, to further spoofing our innocent children, many folks will go to their rooftops and make stomping sounds, while they are ringing sleigh bells.

As you just read that paragraph, did it cause your brain to go “TILT”? It sure did mine, because for years I led my own children to believe in the myth of Santa Claus and his reindeer. Not until I became a grandmother did I realize how untruthful I had been to my children. What a shame that their role model -- modeled dishonesty. How could I expect truthfulness from my children when I was being untruthful. It's one thing to encourage imagination and another....outright dishonesty.

Now, as a much wiser woman who thrives on honesty and truth, I look back and think “What were we thinking?” I desire to be 100 percent honest in all my ways, so that those who follow my lead, are led closer to THE LIGHT than are being led astray. Truth is TRUTH – NOT stretching the truth, or “It’s so cute to see those little wide eyes of wonder."

You may think this is a crotchety ole' gal’s reality, but, in reality, it’s the closer I get to the Baby in the Manger Who Became my Savior, the more I want to be like Him – full of grace and TRUTH. John 1:14 says “The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, Who came from the Father, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH."

My little “Holy Family” and sign that says “Born this day, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord” seems like a meager attempt to celebrate THE ONE – that Christmas is really all about. Maybe someone will see it and hopefully it will draw their attention to think about the real Reason for the Season, but no question it’s lost amidst the gigantic Santa inflatables around the neighborhoods. Here’s the truth that MUST be told to our families and especially to our children, from infancy and on. No question that the imagery of jolly old Santa provides many moments of Christmas joy – especially when we’re propping those little ones in his lap for that annual Christmas photo. The mythical Santa was clearly founded in a man who honored Jesus Christ with his life and his possessions. St. Nicholas gave freely of his riches to benefit those who were less fortunate than himself. "Giving” is clearly one of Christianity's guiding principles in Scripture -- to care for the poor.

“Mommy, Is There Really a Santa Claus?” is a question that families ponder each year. I pray you ask for God’s wisdom and how best to explain to them in “grace and truth”. 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in TRUTH." .And if TRUTH is told – may we give our families a True Story of love, peace, hope, joy, and compassion – the TRUE Christmas Story. What is easier to believe – Santa Claus or that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to earth as a baby, to a lovely couple and the shepherds and wise men came to see him and when they saw him, they worshiped him because he was the newborn King who would set them free - WHO SET US FREE. Yesterday my pastor said "Christmas IS NOT a holiday. It is a HOLY DAY! May we honor the HOLY One Who really did come to give us the greatest gift -- Himself."