dailydatewithgod

As a kid growing up in Catholic school, I have a distinct memory about learning to be courteous.  It was about thinking of someone else before ourselves in simple ways.  Offering to let someone go in front of you, sharing with others, etc.  They correlated it to the parable that Jesus told about when someone asks you for a shirt, to give him your coat as well or when someone asks you to walk a mile with them, walk two.  I took this very literally as a kid and when another student would ask me for a piece of paper I would give them several.  LOL!  If only all of life were that simple.  I did this however more out of a sense of rule following then coming from a heart place of giving.  I think I hoped it made me look good in God’s eyes.  What I didn’t realize at the time was that I already looked good in God’s eyes.  God created me and saw that it was good and was pleased.  God’s love is not something I have to earn.  For today, the way that I understand courtesy and generosity of spirit now comes from a place love and service because it is an extension of who I am.  If I am rooted in God, then I give as God gives.  I do not fear that my giving will take away from me because I am connected to the One that is All.  I am not courteous so that I can check it off some sort of good girl list.  I am courteous because I am taken care of and do not need to be preoccupied about myself.  Sometimes if I find that I am self-focused, I take courteous actions towards others to remind me that I have nothing to fear.  My experience that self-focus comes from fear.  So if faith is the opposite of fear then being of service (courteousness) is an act of faith.  What is your experience of courteousness?  My prayer for you today is to notice when you do not want to be courteous.  Just notice it (we all have moments of it) and ask yourself, is it because I am in fear (two basic fears–losing something I have or not getting something I want)?  If so, then ask God to remind you that you are taken care of and do the courteous thing anyway.  Make it a great one!  Peace~Colleen

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