Right Where It Matters Most
Well, pluck my fiddle strings, friend, come on up here and set yourself right down on this ol’ front porch. Well, I declare, it’s truly a pleasure to have you to come stoppin’ by here today. If you were any more welcome, I’d have that lil’ ol’ plump goose that usually comes struttin’ up at sunrise to come over here carryin’ a little wooden sign that said, “Sit a spell and stay awhile.” Life gets busier than a lil’ ol’ squirrel fussin’ at an ol’ woodpecker, and sometimes we plum forget that the person standin’ right in front of us is the very one the Father planted there for that moment. Philippians 2:3 reminds us to “value others above ourselves.” And Proverbs 19:22 says, “What is desired in a person is steadfast love.” Them two verses together make a mighty fine reminder that love shows up best when we git to slowin’ down and payin’ attention.
You know how it feels when someone talks to you while lookin’ everywhere except at you. Their eyes dart around like a nervous lil’ ol’ rabbit that spotted a sly, hungry fox. They nod, they smile, but you can sho’-nuff’ tell their mind is already halfway across the room. It stings. Yet, if we’re real honest, we’ve all done the same thing. Philippians 2:4 tells us to “look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others.” That there means the person standin’ right in front of us is our assignment for that there moment. Not the text dingin’ in our pocket. Not the chore waitin’ on the counter. Not the other person right across the room who seems more excitin’ to us than a lil’ ol’ rooster that just learned to crow.
When we look past someone, we tell ‘em they don’tt matter. When we look ‘em in the eye, we tell ‘em they do really do matter. Your spouse plum needs that. Your children downright need that. Your friends surely need that. And the Father Himself honors that kind of attention because steadfast love is shown one focused moment at a time. Proverbs 19:22 reminds us that “what people desire most is love that stays put, love that listens, love that does not wander off “ like an ol’ onery goat that spotted an open gate.
Father, help me slow down and truly see the people You place in front of me. Teach me to listen well, love deeply, and be fully present. Shape my heart so it reflects Your steadfast love in every moment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Well, bless my boots and pass me another buttered biscuit, friend. Before you git to wanderin’ off this porch and back into the bustle of your day, you’ve gotta be thinkin’ about carryin’ this here truth with you. Being present is one of the simplest ways to show Christlike love. It sho’-nuff’ steadies relationships the way a strong oak tree steadies the forest around it. It plum comforts hearts the way a warm ol’ barn comforts a shivering lil’ ol’ calf. It tells people they downright matter more than your distractions ever will. So, git to walkin’ into your day with caring eyes that linger, ears that listen, and a heart that stays put.
With joy,
Gwen
