"Aunt Carol, could you be a little quieter?" a sweet voice said to me.  My daughter, Starlie, my niece, Gigi, and I were in a dinner theater in Houston when I felt Gigi's tap on my shoulder. Our meals had been served to us and we were getting into this suspense-filled movie.  I don't know if soft-spoken Gigi knew what a challenge it would be to sit between Starlie and me who are both very expressive!  I had a lovely salad, though I couldn't see it in the dark, that was filled with greens topped with grilled chicken, cucumbers, olives, and cherry tomatoes.  It was that last cherry tomato that was the culprit, right in the highest point of tension!  They had served the salad in a metal bowl and I had a metal fork!  I was NOT going to let that tomato get away from me!  Without realizing the noise I was making, the more intense the movie got, the more I chased that tomato! Clang, clang, clang!  Gigi first turned to Starlie who was on her other side wondering if she was going to address the noise issue.  Realizing it was up to her, she gave me her sweet question.  When I came to my senses and saw what I was doing, I began to giggle! Feeling so silly for my actions, I couldn't stop giggling!  I wonder if the giggling was more annoying than the clanging? 

                  

There is much in life that we do without realizing it is wrong.  We all need to come to our senses!  Leaders are called to correct with kindness, so others can escape the traps.  God is calling us all up higher to maturity!  How we handle situations makes the difference whether there is change!   

 

"The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged. He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it], and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (AMP)

 

If the "eyes of our understanding are enlightened with truth" (Ephesians 1:17,18) we would see clearly.    That is a great way to pray for ourselves and others!    Light will dispel darkness!    Truth will cancel lies!    We will come to our senses!

 

Part of my calling is to r ai se up Leaders!    My heart is to train Leaders to lead with kindness and compassion but in truth!    That's why we live stream the teachings every Tuesday on my Facebook page and make it open to the Public.    (See it under  CarolMarie  Smith.) Another part of who I am is to "empower widows"! If God certainly hears the cry of the fatherless and the widow (Ex 22:23) and He will establish the widow's borders or territory (Pro 15:25), then the widows also have an important place in God's plan.    I am developing a series of training for both the widow and Leaders to be more effective in our roles.    If this is of interest to you, private message me on Facebook and let me know the areas you would find especially helpful.    I will try to address them in my writings and live stream teachings.  

 

We all need to come to our senses and quit chasing tomatoes!    There is a bigger harvest  to which  we are called!