Thursday, October 2, 2014

I'm a Pouter

Sitting there in a conversation with my husband, I decided I did not like his opinion and it was definitely not lining up with the opinion I had formed.  Without going into the nitty gritty details of this "opinion" I must say I did not help things by setting my body language and putting on a full pout. My definition of the word pout - annoyed that someone else (i.e. husband) is not in agreeance with MY opinion. According to Google:
pout - verb
push one's lips or one's bottom lip forward as an expression of petulant annoyance or in order to make oneself look sexually attractive.

I will admit in this particular situation my lower lip probably did resemble that of a two year old when not getting his or her way.  However, I was in no way trying to make myself look sexually attractive.  I actually laughed out loud when I read that part of the definition.

The truth is I do tend to pout when it comes to a disagreement between my husband and I.  Also, I almost always answer his question, "Is everything okay?" with the not so true statement, "I'm fine."

A girlfriend of mine and I were laughing because, "I'm fine" really means, "I am so not fine and you should not have to ask why I am not fine."  Yep, "fine" does not mean "fine".

My point here is that pouting is a normal human reaction when one does not get their way.  However, have you ever found yourself pouting in response to God?  Oh my, I have done this more times than I care to admit.  AND the longer I pout the more I want to pull away from God.  Read the below verse.

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  Hebrews 12:15 NIV

Now read the Message translation of the same verse.

"Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent.  A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time."  Hebrews 12:15 The Message

Wow!  That translation makes it so clear!!  When I begin to pout over something rather small, if I do not stop it in its tracks I am giving it the ability to rapidly grow (take seed) and take over everything.

When God closes a door on a plan that I thought was the right path, instead of pouting and pulling away from Him, I must deal with those feelings immediately.  Just like a weed needs to be pulled from a garden at first sight, I must go to God with any feelings of discontent.  Also, I need to get to the root of those feeling just as a weed needs to be pulled from the root.  Just picking off the top doesn't cure the "pout", those feelings weeds will be back before you know it.

The ironic part is that I can't stand it when others (i.e. my children and husband) pout.  Hmmmm....


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