Lord, Help Us Remember...

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mom who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Lord, help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who couldn't make change this morning is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Help us to remember that the old couple that was walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress, was savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Lord, help us to remember that the frumpy, pot-bellied, balding, middle-aged guy that was selling magazines and gum at the airport is a highly decorated war veteran who saved the lives of several of his buddies in battle while we were home safely asleep.

Help us to remember that the three teen girls we saw hanging out at the mall, dressed like little prostitutes and trolling for boys, come from indifferent homes, their parents God-less and consumed with themselves, their worldly goods, and their careers.

Help us to see that the pale woman with the ill-fitting wig that was arguing with the pharmacist had just finished her 3rd chemo treatment and is deeply worried about what her husband and children will do without her.

And Lord, don't let me forget the lady on the cell phone that was driving erratically in traffic had just learned that her only son will be going back to Afghanistan for another tour of duty…

Lord – help us know that the dark-skinned man that had 20 items in the 12 item express lane just emigrated to America from poverty last month, and he is very grateful to be working and buying food for his family in America - where there is more opportunity than he had ever dreamed existed.

Lord, Help us remember the person who was so disrespectful and hurtful to us yesterday does not have a personal relationship with You, and is living an empty existence without You, a slave to worldly goods and desires. He probably doesn’t even realize his actions hurt us so deeply. Remind us to pray for that person often.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to everyone, like you do. Let us be slow to judge & quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.