Devil or Angel, say whichever you are . . .

Devil or Angel, say whichever you are . . .

Every day we fight with the devil. Well, actually, it’s not such a fight anymore because we have simply given in to him. His vile traits of harshness, selfishness, cruelness, and ruthlessness are no longer despicable or recognizable. We have slowly over time and practice watered down his repulsive bad disposition to seem like a “light welcoming mist” instead of a “deadly typhoon.” As a culture and as individuals we naively, with screened eyes or with clear intent have adopted him and his ways. We seem to welcome the deceiving vapors. They no longer annoy us or disrupt our lives. Oddly, how we weather our vicious storms are now greeted synonymously with our clear skies after the rain. If we have embraced this deceiving haze then it has become a part of who we are. Who we are is what we bring to the table of the family. That mindset is what we will share with our parents and spouses. And those values are the ones we will pass down to our children. It’s time we take ownership of our conduct. Give back the threat to the black clouds and know their potential. Meet the white light and blue skies with peace and love that they are made of. Devil or Angel, say which ever you are and “own it.”
Family means ongoing “unconditional love”. Love means forgiveness. Forgiveness is a clean slate which makes everyone welcome. We will help each other. We will love no matter what. We will do anything for one another. We will come to each other’s aid. We will protect one another.
“It’s going to be okay. We’ll work this out together.” “There is no reason he should be excluded. You bring him to the house with you.” “I know what we’ve done already. We just want to help. Take the money, please.” “Don’t be silly. Of course I’ll come. I’ll be right there.” “I want you to know I love you and my love for you will not change because of what’s happened.”
Today, with the devil in our midst, the definition of family has been altered to “conditional love” or one that is easily discharged. “Give you a break? It will be a cold day in hell when I forget this one. You owe me big time!” “You can’t bring that woman to the house, EVER! And if you do, I’ll disown you!” “You made this mess. Handle it yourself!” “I am done. You are on your own.” “Why should I have warned you? You’re a grown person and have eyes of your own.”
Every day we make choices. We are faced with simple choices about where to eat, how long to sleep and what to wear. Harder choices about who to love, who to reject, how hard to try, and how to get ahead. The unfortunate part is that we are not making choices between “good” and “bad.” We’re making choices between the better of the evils before us.
Let’s take our health for instance. Because we won’t regularly make better food choices or get off the couch our health suffers. “Honey, do you want fish n chips from Jack’s Fish Fry or the triple cheese, extra thick crust all meat pizza from Santiago’s Crazy Pizzaria?” “Do you want to have a banana split with extra chocolate fudge or those great extra cheesy sour cream nachos while we watch American Idol or wait until the Biggest Loser.” Instead, as our fix we accept our disease, and opt to take a pill and mask our pain rather than to put some thought into an improved diet or break in those expensive tennis shoes that are still in the box. Even when faced with strokes, heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, bad knees, hips and death we still slack. No! Slack is too soft of a word. We right out refuse to be good to ourselves! We have become experts at something, finally! “Personal destruction!” We are skilled, proficient and well trained at “refusing to love ourselves”. We have learned to “forsake our good health”. What an accomplishment! We didn’t need to go to college to become “master” at something! Agggh, the family must be proud!
We add “stress” as another family relation and teach our children essential values to pass down to their children and generations to come. “This is the way kids. Complicate your lives, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself! Go to bed late, watch television in all your free time, be sure to send 7,000 texts this month, watch the ballgame rather than play in it, and be sure to let those other people raise the money for the poor. Just be sure to attend the banquet, they usually serve good food. Avoid good financial planning it’s a waste of time. Oh, and important avoid having meals together when two or more sit at the same table, you’ll have to talk. Buy anything you want, when you want and make sure you don’t pay cash! Oh and by the way use Sundays to run errands and to complain about the week to come and definitely sleep in. “What about church Mommy?” Oh church? Easter’s coming. Maybe we’ll go if we can afford to buy you a new outfit. On second thought honey, don’t be too disappointed if we don’t have time. You see first we’ll have to buy some candy, color some eggs, so we can get ready for the Easter Bunny. Then we’ll have to see who’s house we’ll be visiting . . .” “Dad, will you read me a story from this book?” “What book is that sweatheart? Hmmm, children’s bible stories . . . Why don’t you go outside and play and in a while I’ll take you to the store and buy some candy. Okay?”
We make excuses, blame others for our ill fortune, scream poor me, know how to get our way, and are proficient at seeking out sympathetic hearts that will surely comfort us. We are quick to label ourselves or stand quietly and accept when others say we have disorders or addictions such as sleeping, bulimia, anorexia, compulsive buying, sex, smoking, drinking alcohol, and neurotic behavior. “I’m stressed out.” “I can’t help it – I was abused.” “It’s the way I was brought up. I don’t know how to be any other way.”0h really? You gonna go there?
People, people, people -- we know what is good for us and we choose to ignore it. We are capable of improving so many ailments that afflict us, attitudes that destroy us, habits that inhibit us, yet we stand by acting and looking helpless and often defeated. We feed off of and accept the labels dubbed by experts, professionals, the media, and even our own family and friends. We are pathetic! We talk about each other then have lunch together. We have babies out of wedlock, live together without marriage and then wonder why we are all screwed up! Gee whiz --wonder where “morals and values” went! Sadly, this generation would ask, “what that?”
We buy entertainment magazines filled with gossip, truths(?) and lies and make them best sellers. We splurge on vehicles beyond our means. If we have enough money we’ll go under the knife for a tummy tuck, face lift, implants, and reductions for the sake of a damaged ego, low self-esteem or to seek acceptance. We upgrade cells phones every time a new product is advertised, deface our bodies with tattoos, keep trendy coffee houses in business by buying high sugared coffees that are really deserts, know all the dollar menus at all the local fast food joints. However, we can’t hang on to our houses, speak well of each other, afford medical insurance, cook in our own kitchens, offer our time to a needy cause, or keep from getting in debt on another credit card. Where is our backbone? Where are our hearts? Where are our priorities? When will we learn? When will we begin to do what is right? Must we lose a limb, friend, another job, home, life, or break up another family until we get it right?
God has got to wonder about these kinds of things every day. He must wonder why we don’t go to Him, talk about Him, love Him as He loves us. He must question “I have created this wonderful heaven for you, why would you settle for less?" Can you also imagine Him asking, “Why would you suffer when my way is better?” “Why do you worry when I carry life’s burdens for you?” “Why do you search for personal validation and material goods when what I offer brings you confidence, peace and everlasting riches?” “Why would you destroy the perfect body that I gave you?” “Why would you want to be like someone else? I gave to you what I have not to another. You are the joy of my creation. And every inch of you is designed for my purpose and will. What you possess completes my world.
God’s truth, answers and message has always been the same. I am your God. I am love. Follow my commandments. Believe in and know my Son and eternity will be yours.
What will be your truth, your answer, and your message? Who are you? Are you love? Do you have a faithful and generous heart? Do you know Jesus? Will eternity be yours?
Be confident. You know the way. I see Angels all around us!