Choose the Jesus way

It will probably come when you least want it to—the moments where you know you can extend grace or choose tenderness but it would feel so good to prove a point or choose bitterness.
Or when someone close to you chooses just the right thing to get under your skin and you want to stay in the mood you first chose but you are reminded that proximity of relationship gives no right to stick with pride.
Or when a stranger is rude at the grocery store or another mom says something that discredits how you parent or WHATEVER it is happens and you know there is a choice present—THEN—then is when you need to keep this question at the forefront of your mind.
Repeating it over and over and over again, fully aware that your flesh would rather do the easy thing than the hard thing but feeling the nudge of your spirit to choose the Jesus way.

I think the enemy likes to convince us that the little moments don’t *really* matter, right?
But both for you and for the other person, that moment is crucial.
Because in that moment, when you choose grace over pride, forgiveness over bitterness, strength over pity, trust over anxiety, restraint over gossip, compassion over judgement—or whatever it may be—you further decide who YOU want to be. You affirm whether or not you believe the love of Jesus is what you claim it be.
And the other person? They either see you point AT them or see you point up.
And despite how it may feel, it is often the ones who seem sterile, cold, harsh, or unkind that desperately need you to hug them with your words and wrap them in His grace. Reciprocation becomes irrelevant.

If you knew Jesus was watching and their heart was in need, would you respond with Heaven in mind?
Well…He is and it is.

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” -John 13:35
It is impossible to be a follower of Jesus and choose apathy towards others. The determinant of how your heart receives His love is how willing + available you are to spread it.

You will never regret honoring Jesus, whatever it requires. It will always preserve your integrity, protect your peace, and point to the only Kingdom that lasts.