DEALING WITH CRANKY

Have you ever walked into a business only to discover everyone in there is cranky?  It's like they all decided to put on their grouchy pants and wear them at the same time. Perhaps you've gone into a restaurant expecting to have a quiet lovely meal, and the waiter was less than satisfactory. There are times when our spouse is a bit on the 'short tempered' side. And, I just imagine you've been in 'crabbyville' yourself a time or two.  Situations out of sorts, such as a surprise bill, unexpected family tragedy, unhappy family relationships, triggers worry, which causes moodiness.  Sickness, hunger or exhaustion all bring on irritability. Thus we have a world of crabby people. It's difficult facing sudden changes in life and adjusting our attitudes quickly.  We all have a tendency to bear it all to the world.  People say, "If I feel bad, I want you to know it and feel bad too"!

But as a Christian, aren't we suppose to be different? Shouldn't we be the ones that bring a little sunshine into the lives of others? I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, well, that's impossible, because we all have bad days.  But Jesus said, (Mat.5:13-16)  "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

He said you and I are the salt and the light of the world.  We are distinct, adding the seasoning of God's nature, delaying the decay and dispelling darkness.  If we become like the world, we can not affect the world. That's why it's important that we be different. A renowned pastor once said, "You are either being corrupted by the world or you are salting it".

Col. 4:6 says, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Not only our actions but our conversation is able to add flavor to the world. However, a lot of people have a tendency to add 'spice' by speaking their own opinion or criticism. The scripture says, 'let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt...' Taking the time to be watchful over our conversations and our actions will most definitely help to preserve from corruption.

I close with the story read from Matthew commentary: A specific Pastor, tells an encouraging story about the "after taste" left by "salty" missionaries relating that "Pastor Paul Ndungu from Kenya, told us of a missionary couple that served for fifteen years among a particular people group in Kenya without seeing any outward response. He said they labored faithfully, serving the people, teaching the gospel, and doing all they could to set Christ before these people. But none responded until a couple of days after their departure. The missionary family’s maid, two gardeners, and milkman converged upon the empty house, related how they now missed these Christians. All wept about this sense of loss, and reflected upon what they saw in them and what they had taught them. One by one they called upon the Lord, coming to faith in Christ. The church among that people group was born without a missionary but not without the salt and light influence of that Christian family that lived among these people for fifteen years, faithfully living unto the Lord. What they did not accomplish with their missiological approach they accomplished by being Christians in a decaying world."

Look around, do you see a lot of 'cranky' in your work place, at your school, among your friends or family? We then have to ask our self, are we being the salt or the light? Let's be the difference in the world. Shed a little salt and light!

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