Take the Junk Off, Put Love On

I had typed a moment ago about 1,000 words of criticism, the product of my frustration from a conversation I had with a customer today at work. The conversation itself was friendly enough, but my personal reflection on what had been said was like bitter water in my soul. There was something wrong with what I had written. I couldn’t quite articulate the problem until I visited the other blog I keep with my close friends. On the sidebar, the Verse of the Day read,

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)

What I had written was not very compassionate, certainly arrogant, cranky, loudly declaring my impatience, complaining, and altogether lacking in love. It’s apparent that my conscience revolted against the post with adequate cause. Here I am, reflecting on what I almost published, forced to acknowledge that all my words, even the junk, are the overflow of my heart.

May the Lord teach me and grow me, and guard me against the selfsame ignorance that I abhor. May the Lord shower me with the wisdom that I desire and the peace that I pursue. May the Lord bless me with garments of love to wear.