As I sat on my screened-in porch early one morning, I was taken aback with the beauty surrounding me. I held a steamy cup of coffee in my hand and placed my open, well-worn Bible in my lap. As if on cue, as had been our routine for the past several weeks, a visitor hopped from the shrubbery and onto the night-cooled patio. “Good morning, Peter,” I cooed to the little brown bunny. “How are you today?” I just love bunnies, I mused.
Just as I was enjoying watching my furry friend, he hopped over to a flowerpot, stood up on his hind legs, and yanked out a rather large petunia stem.
“Good grief,” I moaned. “Stop that!” Bounding down the steps, I came face-to-face with the wascally wabbit. “Stop eating my flowers,” I warned. “Get out of here. Shooo.”
Back on the porch, I grabbed my lukewarm coffee and placed my Bible back in my lap. It wasn’t long before a dainty hummingbird buzzed up to the hummingbird feeder just outside the screen. I watched in amazement as its wings fluttered and it hovered in mid-air. Iridescent colors of green and blue glistened in the sun. I just love hummingbirds, I whispered.
No sooner had the thought entered my mind, a second hummingbird dive-bombed the first. Quickly a fight ensued. Beak to beak, they fought over the food. “Guys, stop it,” I pled as if they cared. “There are six perches and enough nectar for everybody! Good grief! What’s wrong with you?”
Taking a sip from my now cold coffee, I tried once again to concentrate on my open Bible. But in the corner of my mind, I saw our heron approaching. A beautiful heron lives on our lake and occasionally he passes our way. I marveled at his long legs pointing behind him and his slender beak leading the way. With exaggerated movements, he slowly flapped his magnificent blue-gray wings and glided before me. But then, like a Boeing 747 with a leak in the fuselage, a stream of poop fell from the bird and made a trail in the yard.
“Good grief,” I moaned for the third time in one day.
Back to the Bible. As I tried to concentrate, God began speaking to my heart about what I had seen. Are you willing to take the good with the bad? He seemed to say
You love bunnies and they eat your plants. You love hummingbirds but they constantly fight. You love the heron, but he makes a mess in your yard. Are you willing to take the good with the bad?
“Well, yes” I whispered to God. “I am willing to take the good with the bad. I love your creatures!”
What about people? He seemed to continue. If you are willing to take the good with the bad with mere animals, are you willing to take the good with the bad in people created in My image?
And then, as God so often does in my life, He left me to think about it.
Paul’s words popped in my head: “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV).
I began to think about people in my life whom I have rejected or relationships that I have walked away from because of annoying behavior or emotional messiness. It seems I was willing to take the good with the bad with God’s creation—but when it came to people created in God’s image…not so much.
God always takes the good with the bad.
- Abraham believed God, but he also made some terrible mistakes, namely Hagar.
- David was a man after God’s own heart, but he committed murder and adultery.
- Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, but he was also a deceiver.
- Martha was hospitable, but she was also bossy.
- James was loving, but he was also loud (he wasn’t called a son of thunder for nothing).
- Thomas was dutiful, but he was also doubtful.
And then there’s the woman I look at in the mirror every morning. I’m not going to list my annoying qualities but let me tell you they are many. And yet, God takes the good with the bad. He loves me even when I make a mess.
So, here’s the question for us today. Are we willing to take the good with the bad? Are we willing to overlook the annoying behavior of others and embrace their positive qualities instead? I’m going to leave you to think about it like God left me to think about it that morning.
Heavenly Father, all I can say today is HELP! Help me be patient, loving, and kind. Help me to focus on the positives of others and shrug off the negatives. And Lord, help others do the same with me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Do you have a messy person in your life with whom you need to have more patience? If so, just leave the first initial of their first name. This will be a commitment to start!
Digging Deeper
P
art of loving messy people is knowing what to say and when to say it. My rule of thumb is…when in doubt, leave it out. Want to learn more about how to control your tongue and use your words wisely? Then check out my #1 Bestseller, the Power of a Woman’s Words: How Your Words You Speak Shape the Lives of Others and compaion Bible Study Guide. Its also a much loved Bible study for Women’s groups. And it’s full of laughs.
Comments 93
D
And quite a few more!
Thank you Sharon once again for this beautiful message that was meant for me!
I was praying to God this morning to please change me, that I would have show more kindness and love to those that I look at negatively and lose patience with! God Bless all my sisters in Christ! ✝️💖
Thank you for these words of wisdom to my life. Yes, I have to change daily. See myself in the mirror in order to grow more in God’s Word. Amen
R
LcC
B
My daughter Nichol, very controlling and rude towards her family.
Jon
L
Thank you Sharon! I needed this today!
Loved today’s devotional. Goodness, I would have been the same sitting there watching the nature I so love.
My messy person is B.
Thank you and God Bless.
I loved your devotional this morning! Goodness that could have been me sitting there while I watched the nature I love.
My messy person is B.
Thank you for sharing the message about patience. I need it! My mother lives with me and her dementia is getting worse. Please pray for me and my husband.
R
I need to have patience with R
E
B-the Lord is teaching me patience. Bless you for your impactful message!
Thank you Sharon for making something old seem new again… My church did this Bible Study many years ago, when I think it was first printed. My friend who lead our group “retired” to keep her grand baby. At that time she asked me if I would facilitate the discussion, but I was just “too busy”.. Another lady graciously stepped up to the plate and did video Bible studies for the last 7 years. That lady had foot surgery this summer and is unable to lead the study, so she asked me if I would step up to the plate. I prayed long and hard for many weeks and I gave in to God’s calling. – Next dilemma was to decide what study to do.. Many women didn’t like the video studies but they liked the more personal relationship building and more intimate sharing with each other in the discussions in your style studies. I prayed about this and asked my family to pray that God would lead me to choose the right Bible Study for our church. I ordered several Bible study books until I pulled out old Bible Study books we had done in the past. Our preacher did a sermon on Our Words this summer and it sparked in me your Bible Study. I was happy to see that you have reprinted it and it was available. We have had 28 women sign up so far to attend.. I know God is in this… Thank you for your faithfulness in sharing the Gospel Message. Pray with me that this study will help us all to Grow Closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Word.
Author
I’m so excited for you! The updated version has a chapter on words with adult children! You’ll love it!
Big hugs!
Sharon
I would be interested in getting that book that Valarie Dupree is talking about.
Thank you
Debbie L
I just wanted to give you words of encouragement! Sounds like a wonderful study. ✝️💜
Thank you this morning’s devotional.
The messy person K,. And when we look into the mirror God specks and it’s me !!
When in doubt leave it out!!
May my Sister’s in Christ know it’s okay to call yourself messy!! God knows us best!! And sometimes we too are just plain Messy!!
S
M is the messiest person I know. She tries so hard to mold and fit in but something always happens and her messiness comes out. I love her any way because you see I know her background. She came from a mother who could not stand her, a father that was a menial provider and had no desire to form a relationship with his children. Her older brother and sister had a sexual relationship, then the brother turned his attention to her. She married a man who of course treated her as her family did and to this day does not have the courage to break away from him. She is always striving to appear perfect on the outside because she feels so worthless on the inside. I accept her with all my heart and pray everyday for God’s grace upon her. When I see a person who is messed up somehow, my first thought is “what happened to them as a child”.
M
C
Thank you a humble reminder I needed this morning. I could put my own initials in the space.
T
D
May she find her way and happiness and may I find the strength and patience to help her
M
Mother, Daughter S, Daughter A and Father
Mother, Daughter S, Daughter A and Father
I read your article this morning on my screened in porch along with humming birds and a cat hiding in a bush by my bird feeders. I love my “mornings on the porch “ and especially Tuesday with Sharon. It’s as if you are writing specifically to me. THANK YOU
Well now my feet hurt because this stepped on them…. Thank you for this reminder. I just prayed for more patience on my walk this morning. I’m definitely a combination of Martha and James…….😉😊🤷🏻♀️
H. Your devotion today was so timely. thank you.
A
May God Bless Us All.
Amen 🙏🏾
K
Jon
A
A
B
C
O
S
Sharon I read this article and will admit I could be included in the messy it seems we call could. Who comes to mind for me is T, N, I who is my mom, R, K. Thank you for the reminder that God still loves us even when we are in the midst of the messiness. God knows we are not perfect but praise to Him for his patience as we strive to become closer to him and be more like him. I can use a huge dose of patience with my landscaping company as I see them destroy yards and they don’t care. I have to control my tongue so I don’t go out there and say something then get in trouble with the HOA. Oh well the saga continues. Thank you for a great message as always.
S
D – so grateful for your encouraging emails
J
Several. P, A, B. 2 are my daughters. Im sending this to them. 🥰
none
J
I have a very difficult person in my life. please pray for me that God will help me to be kind in the middle of a very poisonous marriage. I find myself feeling like Im just not responding to the continued disrespect properly. I am always in his word but distracted by the chatter that keeps interrupting my peace of mind. T
The messy people in my life that I need to be more patient with our
Myself
M
M
M
And G
C
A
T
I need to love them harder than ever…
Thanks for this message.
C
God’s timing! This Friday we are having a Celebration of Life for my brother in law. This past Sunday I asked for prayers for peace and healing because there is some family tension going into this. I’ve been trying to determine how I should act and react on Friday and beyond. Yes there are some “messy” people, and I’ve had my feelings hurt, but God has used this article to help me understand that my actions and attitude towards them can make me the “messiest of the messy”! God has healed my attitude this morning. I feel freed from a heavy burden. I ask for prayers that I will not allow anything that the enemy tries to throw at me to change that.
Messy Person “Korey”
Thank you for your wise words! I will be getting your study! I have been praying a SOS for help. God has answered thru your obedience to share! Praying for D
Thanks for all you do, but I ask God to work with this messy situation, it’s too much for me.
R
Thank you, I needed this! God HELP, Amen 🙏🏿 And may God bless ALL of you on your journey.
B. My sister with sczephrena
T, K.
I really needed to hear this today. I am a messy person who needs God’s help to tell me what items I need to give away, items to throw out, those to keep.
A.
I just asked God this morning for patience rather than the opposite this morning with this person.
A
I am a Christian, saved by grace and filled with the Spirit. I am also a mess right now. God knows the reasons. Please pray for me and my family.
Soooo God told you to bring this to my attention to day didn’t He? It’s been one of those weeks
Thank you
V. Thank you for sharing this. I volunteer with a woman who is the president of our neighborhood association. She is a one-man show and does it all.
Two people A and P
C
B
Thanks for this beautiful reminder today – just what I needed!
L what a great reminder for me today. When I want to give up and walk away. Maybe the annoyance is a reminder of how much they need God and friends. I myself am pretty annoying sometimes but I certainly need God and people to love and forgive me.
M
Yes this spoke volumes to me ..thank you for your transparency in love
Amen 🙏
P
Yes, I need to look at the positive qualities and give grace when the annoying thing happens. Thank you Sharon for this reminder.
J
C.
She is a wonderful, caring, loving person who unfortunately has not yet turned away from the sin of gossip. Praying for her to realize that Life and death is in the power of the tongue. 🙏
M,S.Sharon this is so on point for my current situation. Thank you for your words of encouragement and your obedience to the calling on your life.
C
S
Thank you Sharon….I thoroughly enjoyed this devotion today. You speak my language….And you speak God’s!
F
K
C
JM Thanks for the lovely reminder. This happens so often in a day.
S and a few more,
Tiffany
J is my patience tester! Thank you Sharon I know I needed this message!
J. Thank you for sharing this. I really needed to hear this today!
L
And a few more actually. By golly, I NEEDED this reminder today! Thank you.
A
And any prayers to help me achieve this will be much appreciated.
L
R and myself!!
Thank you for sharing this message. We definitely need the Holy Spirit’s gentle and sometimes not-so-gentle reminders to minister grace when we are tempted to walk away and not be bothered.
M
N
SW
A
Ty Guy <3
Thanks for a good reminder Sharon. That was my Mom's name and we miss her so.
M