Snickerdoodle Love

Chile, this past Friday I was released from school for Christmas break! I found myself at the opposite end of NOT knowing what to do with my time. I said to myself, "You gon' REST, chile."

True Hazard = No One Cares

That afternoon, I wound up sitting in my truck on the side of my street a few houses down from mine because on my way to get the truck's emissions tested, I decided that the chocolate candy bar and cup of milk I had brought with me deserved my full attention. So, in the jubilant Christmas-break-rest spirit, I pulled over and enjoyed my well-deserved snack without tasking myself with driving.

I turned on my hazards so people would know to go around me. But with this thought came another one, which reminded me that some years ago, I would've thought twice about flashing my hazards for such a frivolous thing as indulging in a chocolate candy bar, out of concern that somebody might actually think something was wrong and stop to help me. But NO ... not in today's society. And ain't that a shame? Therefore, I put my hazards on with very little concern that someone would think something was wrong.

One of my very close friends was talking with me about something she'd planned to do that would require her to pull over on the side of the road in her travels. I said to her that she may want to think twice about doing that because a thoughtful person may stop to check on her. Her very quick and casual response to me was, "Girl, people don't care these days. Ain't nobody gonna' stop." When she told me this, I thought, "Man. That's not cool, but it's true."

It's Just Right

Right about now, I bet you're wondering why this post is titled the way it is. Well, when I think of a snicker doodle cookie, I think of all that is right with sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla extract combined. There are a couple more ingredients belonging to this blessedly simple recipe, but what I'm saying here is the simplicity in making this deliciously scrumptious and comforting sweet is what makes it so great! You bite into a well-made snickerdoodle cookie and tell me you don't like it. I'll then pray for you because apparently your God sensors are off, chile!

Loving others is equivalent to this simple sugary treat ... it's just RIGHT. It's right to love. It's right to care about others. It's right to treat them as you want to be treated. It's right to show concern for them ... to esteem them highly, understanding that the same God who made you made them too. When we live like this, we stick to treating people with truth at the core of everything we do.

As God's been showing me more about the importance and power in prayer, I'm seeing that it's not only a good thing to pray, but it's an honor to do it ... not only for oneself but especially for others. For, with this perspective is the heart posture of wanting the same awesome impact of a God who fights for His people to happen in others' lives --- that snicker doodle love. It's just right.

The B-I-B-L-E

The Bible tells us that we should love others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:39) and to even esteem others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). It also tells us that we should always pray -- about everything. Praying about everything runs in tandem with not being anxious or fearful about anything (Phil. 4:6). And not submitting to fear speaks to our love walk ... not only how we show love but how well we receive God's love for us (1 John 4:8 & 18).

When a person has an issue with loving others, it's because he doesn't receive the love of God the right way and therefore cannot properly give it. We gotta' receive God's good 'ole snicker doodle love, knowing that quality of life sure 'nuff depends on it.

Teddy P. almost had it right.

"Said now 70-30

Now 60-40

Talkin' bout a [snick-er-doodle] love, yeah"

(word in brackets is obviously mine and not Teddy's)

#SnickerDoodle #Cookie #Love #GodsLove #CareforOthers #LoveyourNeighbor