First off, my wife is amazing.
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:10-12 NLT
My savior Jesus Christ revealed Himself yet again through my loving wife, who got to be my roadside savior this morning!
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Remember how in my post yesterday (see here), I mentioned that my car was on empty?
Well guess what happens when you don’t do something about it?
What a lesson about life, when you find yourself so busy running from one place to the other that you forget to refill your own tank.
Yesterday, I was quick to pull over when I thought someone needed help, but I wasn’t so quick to take care of the items I needed to tend to. I didn’t stop and get gas, because I was in a hurry and I forgot.
So now, I’m the one sitting on the side of the road myself, in need of help myself. How often had this same thing happened in different ways?
How many times has a pastor who counsels others about their marriages found that he’s not pouring into His own wife and kids like he should?
How many times have we sat and listened to a friend and tried to help them with what we thought we heard in their words, thinking we had advice for them instead of hearing the conviction that was meant for us?
How many times have we been blind guides, acting as if we are able to lead the blind ourselves, instead of relying on and giving all credit to Christ (who lives in us as we stand in awe that He would use even us).
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Last night, Mia and I set a goal for this day that wee would be an extra special blessing to someone in a way that isn’t just part of our normal day. We wanted to brighten up someone’s day intentionally just for the purpose of seeing their smile, their joy, their encouragement. But I started out my day having to interrupt my wonderful wife’s morning with the burdensome task of bringing me has on the side of the interstate. And I sit here in a powerless car that must wait for the source of its power to be refilled.
My prayer isn’t that Mia and I strive today and do some good works under our own power so that we might brag to each other tonight about our filthy rags, no. But my prayer is that God would reveal Himself to someone today through the loving kindness He has poured out in us.
Lord, help us to remember that we are just as reading upon your grace and mercy and live and help as the next. And remind us that much business is not necessarily greatly used. And that being a blessing is sometimes giving someone else an opportunity to be a blessing and to receive pour praise and honor for being an unexpected blessing, especially when it costs them something. Remind us to keep our own tank filled. Remind is to be grateful to those willing to pour into us, and help us to carry your blessing and pour it out in love. Amen.
Harold J. Ballinger 