It was the five o’clock hour on a Wednesday afternoon. The time of day that I like to refer to as the “insanity hour.” That’s the hour in which I begin the mad dash to “straighten” (I have 4 kids so I use this term LIGHTLY) the house before Daddy gets home, begin wondering what in the world we should eat for dinner, and deal with the inevitable melt down that occurs by at least one or two of my precious children. I was rushing to put away the clean laundry that had been comfortably making itself home on the sofa for the last week and I gave my three sons the task of picking up the toys in the playroom while I was putting away the laundry. After giving the boys a quick pep talk complete with a ‘clean up cheer’ I whisked myself away to the bedroom with an armful of clean clothes to hang. I was busy hanging clothes and decided to pray for my husband while I worked. I started praying and immediately began making my “laundry list” of improvements that I would like God to do in him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great man and husband but there were just a few items I really wanted “fixed”. I was really getting in a groove, praying and hanging, when I was abruptly interrupted by my 3rd child. Our conversation went like this:
Him: “Mommy, the brothers aren’t picking up.”
Me: “Well, what are you doing?”
Him: “But Mommy, the brothers aren’t picking up.”
Me: “Yes, I heard you but what are YOU doing?”
Him: “Well, I’m just telling you that THEY aren’t picking up.”
Me: “Well, what are YOU supposed to be doing?”
Him: “Picking up.”
Me: “Well, go and sin no more.”
Ok, so I really didn’t say that last line! 
He walked away and I went back to my clothes hanging. I kind of chuckled (Trying out a new word here. Usually I just laugh) to myself as I thought about the conversation I just had. Then I felt convicted. I had just moments before been doing the exact same thing with God!
Me: “God, my husband’s not doing what you said.”
God: “Well, what are you doing?”
Me: “God, he really has these areas that I need you to fix.”
God: “Yes, I heard you but what are YOU doing?”
Me: “Well, I’m just telling you that he’s not doing what you said.”
Him: “Well, what are YOU supposed to be doing?”
Bammmm!!!!! Smacked right between the eyes!! So maybe my conversation with God wasn’t that simplistic and childish but when you break it down and get to the heart of the matter that is what I was saying. So often we so easily can point out all the things that need a lil’ work in someone else yet we overlook our own pride and critical spirit. We don’t see it as doing anything “wrong” because we are “praying” about it. But Jesus himself had a few words to say about this very subject.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:3-5
Please don’t misunderstand me and think that we should never ask God to change someone else that might need a little changing! Before we do that though we should first go to Him and examine our own hearts and the areas that He needs to do a little rearranging in us! When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts first we can be sure that when we pray for our spouse or a friend that we do so with pure motives and a clean heart! Jesus wasn’t giving us a two-step process on how to tell your friend they have lipstick on their teeth! Nor was he telling this story for us to take it and turn it into a law that we can paint on a pretty canvas, frame and hang over our mantle. Don’t be a religious rule follower and miss it! Jesus was concerned about the state of our hearts sweet friends! I am so thankful that He is so loving and kind to gently remind us when our hearts aren’t quite in alignment with His. And I’m so grateful that He makes it so easy for me to come to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to get rid of all the “uglies” in my heart so that I can pray for others with pure motives.
Lord,
Thank you for your gentle reminder to examine my own heart before I come to you and point out all the things I would like for you to change in someone else. Precious Father make it our initial reaction to ask you to clean up our hearts and lives first before we ever examine someone else’s. Lord let your love always flow through us in every relationship we have. Holy Spirit do a work in our hearts, change and rearrange whatever you would like so that we can be used for your glory.
So good, Kelli!!! Love ya!
What a wonderful reminder Kelli!!! Thank you – your words were a great start to my morning.
Sweetheart I love this post! Not because God gave you a gut check while you were trying to mold and shape me. : ) It's because of the way you listen to his voice with such clarity and recognition. "My children know me and hear my voice." I love your heart!
Thank you Kelli! I think we all need this reminder from time to time! I know I have fallen into this trap before!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you Kelli!! I think we all need this reminder from time to time. I know I have fallen into this trap before! Thank you for sharing!!
Kelli, great word today! Thank you for your honesty! Lord knows I could use a neon sign reminder of this sometimes. So thanks for the blinking warning light and not knocking me over the head! You are so sweet!
Great blog! Thanks for sharing
I went to the Lord recently and asked Him to change something about my 9 yr old and all He did was tell me all the things I needed to change! I was a little surprised but encouraged by His gentle way of helping me change my behavior in some areas. God is so good to help us navigate all our relationships!
God Bless!
What a great reminder! Thank you for sharing your heart
Kelli–What an amazing post…it totally speaks to my heart! Thank you for sharing your learning experiences with us!!
Kelli… What a great post! Speaks to me sooooo much Thank You.
Great post, Kelli! I love your writing style….full of grace, truth and mixed with a lot of humor
Thanks for the reminder to let the H.S. to examine our hearts as we go before Him. I needed to hear this. Blessings, Beth
I can totally relate! Thanks for that Kelli!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! So meaningful to ALL of our lives. I have totally fallen into this trap before and it is so easy to slip into…so I really appreciate the reminder.
thank you for that timely reminder!!
holy cow herd! that was awesome! thank you!!
Good stuff, Kelli!
Okay, so when I write comments I usually end up writing a short novel, so here ya go!!:) When I read your blogs they just make me smile and giggle a little bit. You have a gift of making people laugh and it is such a GOOD thing. I could see myself doing the "mad straitening" just as I'm sure every other honest mother in America does before their husband gets home!:)
I love the way you bring the true prospective to the light and make it shine in a new and different way. So many times I want to do a quick fix prayer for my loved ones:) when God says "hello, it's time to talk about me and you darlin'". The everyday lessons in life.:)
This was so good and as always just what I needed to hear!!
I love your heart sweet Kelli!!
~Maree
Girl I love this. So good. And it goes right along with what you well know I've been dealing with! Love you – love your heart. Love your honesty. Love your friendship.
Awesome! Needed to hear that. When I finally get this plank out of my eye, I am going to whak someone with it!
The man who married us told us that he would not marry a couple who intended NOT to have children. I think this is one of the reasons why. I feel like I've learned so much about myself as I parent my kids. God's voice is constantly, gently reminding me of truth I need to apply in my life as I parent them. Thanks for sharing. Love how your words beautifully reflect your heart!
Hey girl! Loved this! I can so relate!! "Yes, Lord..change my husband..lol..Oh, You want to work on my heart.." Thanks for this great reminder to keep our heart and motives pure.. Be Blessed!
Ya … I've spent a lot of time in the closet! Sometimes praying … sometimes complaining … sometimes having my own special pity party. I love how your story unfolds in the closet … for is the place we find God! He doesn't care about the condition in which we get there … He cares that we come. Open, honest, and REAL. You totally portrayed that and I LOVE that your son was God's lil' helper;)
So love you and being in view of your bloom … I gotta tell you … it's breath-taking!
Great Love!
~Ris
Kelli this was exceptional!!! Seriously, a "that'll preach" blog! loved it my beautiful friend!
Rebecca
Thanks so much for taking time to write this; it is such a good word for me to remember!! (Well-written too!)