Nov. 10, 2006 - Okay,...two things...about my "chastising" and a blessing, t'boot!
First of all, I just want to thank a very dear friend of mine for a special gift. 
She's a gal in our hs group. She called me the other day to share a fab-O deal on a laptop computer that WalMart was offering. Now, the deal was that they were offering a Compaq Presario for a peachy price (under $400) after midnight one night this week. Well, the price was right for sure...but the closest WM is 1/2 an hour away from me, closter to 45 minutes away from her, AND...the only had 20 of them to offer....so, in order to get one, you had to drive a "ways" AND stand in line early enough to get one.
Well, my hs gal-pal knew I really wanted a laptop. In fact, I had tried to earn one with the company I work for, and didn't get it. Anyway, she said she'd buy one for me while she was there. Was she awesome or what?? 
I am typing now from my brand new laptop, and just feeling very special right now. 
Okay, so what happened to humble me so??
Well, have you ever said something, and at the time really felt like what you said was a "good thing," but then later it came back to bite you on the butt-isimo?? 
In an attempt to befriend some of the neighborhood kids and minister to them, I have let my guard down, and said something I shouldn't have. One of the boys across the road is in a lot of trouble, pretty much all the time. But, he's one of the sweetest kids, too. I mean, he can have a decent conversation with me, talk about school (which he got "asked to leave," recently) and even share he woes from time to time. His little sister plays with my dd almost daily. Well, he recently "made a mistake" and we talked about the friends he hangs out with. I made what I thought was a fairly obvious but mostly innocent comment; something like, "Maybe you should evaluate your relationships with your friends and see if you could find some friends that would encourage you to do good, ya know?" To which he replied, "Yeah...I know....that's what my parents say, too."
I thought that was the end of it....but NOOOOO! 
He actually goes and tells one of his buddies (and I use the term quite loosely here, since he's been in even more trouble that the first kid) that I told him he ought to stop running around with him. 
He's the one who "named names" and mentioned he thought his life-long buddy might now be a good influence...not me. I just said he ought to evaluate his relationships.
Well the second kid is just livid...and he's only 14 or so, but what a mouth!!! I went out and talked to him and made sure he knew I hadn't said anything to his buddy that I wouldn't say to him as well.
So, where did I go wrong?
I made the mistake of thinking that my words will always be shared with the same intonation, same motive, and same love that I intended them to be shared. With kids, it just ain't so.
I also learned that, when the Holy Spirit is cautioning me NOT to open my mouth, 
I'd best NOT OPEN my MOUTH!!! I had a short but definite caution in my heart right before I opened my mouth...it said something like, "Don't assume you can trust him yet!! Don't think he'll receive your words the right way," and I just ignored Him. And look what happened! 
Well...believe it or not, there's more...but it's late...and I'm just spent.
Lord, please don't allow my arrogance and pride to get in the way of what YOU want to do in the lives of those around me. Help me to hear You more clearly when You're trying to guide me. And help me to be humble when it's time to "fess up!" I love You, Lord! Amen
