A Conversation with God...

 A Conversation with God...

By Fred Gillett, Crystal Cathedral Lay Pastor

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

-Galatians 5:22-23.

Heavenly Father, you are...and I am...because of your perfect love.

Help me not to get angry with the woman who cut me off yesterday evening while I was rushing home to check my e-mail. She was probably a single mother, who worked her nine-to-five job and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry, and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help me not to be judgmental about the tattooed young man with the piercings who was completely rude and oblivious of me in the grocery store when I smiled and said hi. He was probably a college student wondering if he will ever get a job, living on Top Ramen, and trying to balance his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

When I see a group of challenged adults standing on a street corner waiting for a bus, let me think of how I can be a blessing instead of just saying, "By your grace, there go I," and then moving on to my destination.

Remind me, Lord, that the unkempt-looking bum begging for money in the same spot every day is possibly a slave to addictions that I cannot even comprehend.

Help me to resist complaining under my breath when I get behind a physically challenged older person walking or driving annoyingly slowly, impeding my progress. He may have just received a biopsy report that indicated that this would be his last year Christmas shopping for the grandkids.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me each day that, of all the gifts you have given me, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those I hold dear. Open my heart, not just to those who are close to me, but also to all humanity. Show me how to use the fruits of your Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May I be a blessing to others as you have blessed me. Amen.