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Grace is Messy

Should Your Life Come With a Warning Label?

Last updated on: July 7, 2016 at 11:37 am   by Guest Contributor

Should Your Life Come With a Warning Label? 2016-07-07T11:37:09-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“Life is simple. People are complicated.” Those are the words from a meme I shared recently on Instagram. And it’s true. We are all messy. We have hang-ups, issues, short fuses, triggers, and other things that make us complicated.

My friend Morgan Guyton writes about toxic Christianity often, and sadly, most of us know more than a few toxic people.

Today’s post is a Throwback Thursday for ya. This is one of my favorite guest posts from my friend, Gigi. It was originally published in 2011, but the truths are timeless. Be encouraged today: no matter what disclaimers you feel your life should come with and no matter the labels others have placed on you, your life is valuable. I am thankful you’re a part of this community.

-Steve


WARNING: CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE.

That warning label is not uncommon. Do you have a gas grill? A can of hair spray? Ever seen that warning on a huge truck going down the interstate? That label means don’t mess with me too much, or in the wrong way, or I just might explode. On you. In flames.

Pressure isn’t always a dangerous thing. You want your tires to have pressure. Otherwise, you have a flat. That means you are calling Dad for help. Or AAA. The pressure of the school bus arriving at a specific time in the morning means that you get up and get ready when you are supposed to. Pressure of good grades means you turn in your homework. Completed. Extreme heat and extreme pressure turns carbon into a diamond (and then earrings and rings and other fabulous bling)! Thank you, Mr. Pressure!

Pressure is unavoidable.

YOU will be under pressure.

You WILL be under pressure.

You will be under PRESSURE.

What if we had warning labels on each of us? 

Would your label read:

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. FLAMMABLE.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. READY TO CRY.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. PLEASE MAKE ME LAUGH.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. READY TO FIGHT.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. LEAVE ME ALONE.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. PRAY WITH ME.

Or

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. PLEASE LOVE ME.

Should your life come with a warning label?

Maybe we do have a label, if we would just let it show. Knowing that others are under pressure just like us will help us deal with them in patient and loving ways. Showing our label may help others be patient and loving with us.

Here is a label we all need to wear:

CHILD OF GOD. LOVED.

Put this label on. Write it on your heart. Write it in your journal. Wear it. Show it. Love it. No matter what the pressures are, you are LOVED. BY GOD. (and that’s a whole lot!)

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)


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