Here's a learning experience for everyone...Make sure you have the correct receipt when you go to the store to exchange an item. This weekend, I picked out a ring that I really liked and my mom offered to buy it for me. Something was all jacked up with how the coupons worked during her transaction so they had to redo the whole order. Well, I guess in the process - it invalidated the items on the receipt. So, when I went to return the ring and exchange it for one that fit my finger, the receipt said that the item had already been returned. How wonderful since I found a ring I liked better (but also cost a little more) and wanted to just pay the difference. Here we go...the fiasco begins.
Not only was the sales associate not understanding what the transaction was all about (because of the receipt), she was also extremely rude. To spare myself from repenting for bitterness again I won't go into detail. :-) But I will say that my sparks tend to be ignited when people are rude and inconsiderate. There's no need for it...I get heated quick-fast-& in a hurry! While I was standing there, I was praying for patience and that God would give me grace to deal with the woman...I was trying to help her (and the company out) by doing the right thing when they rang it up incorrectly the first time...and she's belittling ME! "Oh, Lord...come quick!" Shoot!
I had calculated the difference to be about $7 or $8. After she tried to convince me that, in the second attempted transaction, she had credited the original ring and that I now owed
x (which was actually the price of the new ring) I was REALLY frustrated. Where did the credit go from the original ring? Then she re-did all of it AGAIN and the difference came out to $2 and something...I didn't argue anymore...I accepted this as the reward for not flipping out when I felt like I could.
What is my point in all of this? Not to rant and rave about my experience...but to tell you about what God is trying to work out of me...impatience. This is the latest P&G (Patience & Grace) test...there have been many others (that I've failed miserably). These P&G tests are not only tests about self-control...but also about my ability to love others - regardless of what they are doing.
I can't keep my composure on my own...God has to keep me in line. In moments that are overwhelming like that - it helps to think of it as a test (because it very well may be)...it is then and only then that I am able to respond to the Holy Spirit and His peace.
Which test seems to recur over and over in this season of your life? Perhaps God is trying to work something out of you to replace it with something more like Him. Surrender in the moment and you will be surprised with the strength He provides to overcome.