Life as I know it was turned upside down today. It happened in a whirlwind at lunchtime and I’m still shocked when I think about it. It was a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of the tastebuds.
what happened, you ask?
I ate potato salad.
Now, before we proceed any farther, you need to know my personal history: I do not like potato salad. I haven’t ever willingly eaten it. I’m sure personal friends and family, who know me well, are in a state of shock. They know how I feel about it. My mom is probably concerned, wondering if lunch time vigilantes kidnapped and blindfolded me, forcing spoonfuls of the cold potato concoction down my throat. And her concern is legitimate.
For my mom: I promise you, I am in my right mind, and I ate the potato salad of my own free will.
How does someone come to such a change of heart, or in this case, tastebuds?
My children and I were at a friend’s home for lunch and for the first time in my life I thought the potato salad looked appealing. At first I was very uncomfortable at the thought. I have *hated* potato salad since I was old enough to know what it was. But, I took the serving spoon and put a small scoop on my plate. I think I just happened to have that epiphany where I realized my friend is a good cook, and I couldn’t imagine her serving up something that wasn’t delicious.
And I ate it. That’s right. I chose to put it on my fork and shovel it down. Do you know, for the first time since I tried it in my childhood, I liked it. I can’t explain it. And I wonder how I will feel about it the next time potato salad and I cross paths.
What happened at lunch today is only a peculiar little picture similar to how God is working in my heart.
I am going to be careful about details, but I want to share this with you. Different situations have come to the surface of my heart that require forgiveness. In several ways I have felt the Holy Spirit compelling me to be forgiving, in spite of the fact that its not comfortable or easy.
In the past, I have been one to hold onto things too long. I dwell. I think. My heart hardens and I cling to ‘my rights’. So naturally, when the need to forgive is served up, I have had a hard time swallowing. For a all of those reasons I’ve listed and probably more, my own human nature keeps me from being able to enjoy the taste of forgiveness.
But today, the Holy Spirit moved in my heart in such a new and refreshing way, revealing to me again how I’m forgiven. I am so much worse off than I ever imagined – my sin is great! But My Heavenly Father loves me so much more, in spite of it all, and has forgiven me. With that revived freedom at work in my heart, I was able to forgive. In fact, the grace I’ve received looked so wonderful and tasted so sweet, it was almost easy to take that experience and forgive someone else.
from Colossians 1:
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
That forgiveness I needed to give today, it wasn’t a struggle. I didn’t have to stop and think too long. It was such a change for me! Sincerely it was a new beginning of my heart’s revolution.
Heavenly Father, thank you for this change taking place in my heart. And thank you for using the simplest things to get my attention, drawing me close to You in the most unexpected ways. Your forgiveness and love is so much more than I deserve. Help me to share that same grace with those around me. amen.
daily portion 
I think you’re pregnant…..*wink*
hahahaha! um… no. 🙂
ha ha!