2 Fish, No loaves, & Benadryl

Last week I traveled home to celebrate my parents' 40th Anniversary!

(We LOVE love!!)

As I was making the long trek home (5 hours of vacant roads, of farms, cows, and other weird scenery) , I started to get a little bit of an attitude. 

The weeks leading up to the actual dinner were pure chaos. 

Multiple group chats trying to iron out details, the overwhelm of daily life, and general miscommunication of siblings in different stages of life and different portions of the East Coast trying to align.

With the time and date selected all that was left to do was for everyone to arrive and enjoy the camaraderie. 

Now the day itself ended up looking a little different than we expected. Unexpected illness meant a sibling would be missing at the dinner table, and logistics with childcare needs would result in one less partner of a sibling. 

However, a good time was had among those who could attend. 

Except for me.

Enter a seafood allergy playing out at one of my parents' favorite restaurants, a seafood joint. 

So, me, my 2 Pepsis, and internal dialogue gave the occasional laugh, provided the unnecessary but necessary sarcastic comment and just waited until the evening was done. 

While I was driving home, the Lord spoke to me and asked me a simple question:

"How often do you take Me to places I don't belong and I just sit quietly in the corner waiting for you to be done?"

Now, I don't know about you, but I prefer my tantrums to occur without the Lord interrupting. It just seems more peaceful that way. 

However, post-tantrum I've let that question roll around in my head for some time, and I've come to this conclusion.

I've probably brought the Lord around multiple friendships and relationships that I knew clearly that He was not giving permission for.

He waited in the corner for me to end those seasons.

Engaged in conversations that weren't pleasing, kind, or uplifting in any way.

He waited in the corner for me to be done. 

Allowed thoughts to roam freely and take root in my mind that should have never been entertained.

He waited in the corner for choose peace. 

Made decisions without consulting His will for my life and stood firm in my belief that I was right.

He waited in the corner for me to surrender. 

Spoken words out of anger, frustration, hurt feelings, and just because I could, those were not words that should have been spoken.

He waited in the corner for me to clear that up. 

I'm also sure that there are many more occasions where my claim of Christianity and my poor choices, actions, and words collided.

Leaving out the very person that I proclaim to follow and surrender. 

So, although I won't be repeating my experience, I learned something new about the kindness of God. 

Kindness that never judges.

Kindness that never abandons.

Kindness that never runs out. 

Kindness that is always pure and always true. 

So not only did I get to experience my parents' commitment and love for each other, I also got an unexpected reminder of God's kindness in my life.

So today, I'd invite you to pause for just a moment.

Is there an area of your life where Jesus has been waiting quietly in the corner?

A conversation?

A relationship?

A habit?

A decision?

An attitude?

He isn't standing there because He's distant.

He's waiting because He's kind.

And He longs to be welcomed into every part of your life—not just the parts you've already surrendered.

The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He never forces His way into the room.

He simply waits for the invitation.

So today, invite Him in.

Because life is always better when He isn't waiting in the corner... but walking beside you every step of the way.