Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2)
A crabby pattie. If you have ever watched “Sponge Bob” on TV then you know this is a hamburger-like sandwich that I assume must be made out of crab meat. But it can also be a state of mind. Just like we can be a Happy Helen or Cheery Cheri, we can all take on the personality of “Crabby Pattie.”
You awake with a sore and stiff body. The toaster gets stuck. You gag on a pill. Your dog threw up sometime last night–you notice it when you step on it. The phone rings and it’s a bill collector. Another lost medical bill you were sure you had paid has now been sent to collections. And it’s only 7:30.
Ever had one of those days? How easy it is to yell at the dog who looks at us with downcast eyes, rant to our family how no one ever put their dishes in the dishwasher, go into the bathroom and shut the door and knock our forehead agaist the door saying, “Grrrrrr. . . I cannot handle a day like this! I just want to go back to bed!
Not that I would know. . . I mean, we don’t even have a dog. We have a cat.
How quickly we (I?) turn into that Crabby Pattie!
Have you ever heard someone in your family turn into one? Even from the other room, when we hear them ranting our first instinct is to put distance between us and them! We feel we are walking on egg shells. Did we do something that is making them mad? Are we going to be in their way? How can we avoid their mood?
It’s not pretty, is it? It gives us a moment to reflect on how we must appear before not only those we love here on earth, but God too.
Scripture tells us to “be completely humble and gentle, patient, loving.” And what happens when we feel that is too high of a request for our situation? We don’t get a pass to be Crabby Pattie. We are to make every effort for peace.
Hard to do? Yep! That is the point. We simply cannot do it without God’s help. Rather than running for privacy and knocking our head on the wall, we need to find that quiet place and ask God to help us. “Lord, give me strength. I know the right thing to do, but I am having a hard time doing it. Help put the right words in my mouth. Help my family feel surrounded by peace when I am present, not feelings of turmoil and avoidance.”
Prayer: Lord, when my instinct is to lose my cool, the situations seems to warrant it, and I see no hope that the day will improve, remind me that even when the circumstances are stressful, I need to make every effort to keep the unity. Give me the desire and the strength to do this through Your Holy Spirit, because I cannot do it on my own strength.
About the Author:
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and author of Why Can’t I Make People Understand?. If you haven’t read it yet readers have said it’s a life-changer! She is struggling lately with her illness, trying to parent well, and all life gives her. This particular idea of blessings in the wrestling is refreshing to her!
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When you have said something you regret or even just walked around with that Crabby Pattie attitude, what do you do to get back to creating an environment of peace?
Thank you Lisa for this devotion. This was me last week!! I couldn’t even stand to be around myself!! I have been in more pain the past week or so and just lost patience with “coping and enduring.” So thanks for letting me no I am not alone.
Adrienne
P.S. I love the cat.