Frustrated Much?

Do you ever get frustrated?  Frustrated with people, annoyed by their habits, or their presence because you’ve got something you’re trying to do?  This might sound horrible, but I was home with my daughter the other day, trying to get some work done, while she stood next to me methodically unplugging and plugging back in the magnetic battery cord for my MacBook.  You see, it has a little green/orange light, depending on the battery life.  And she likes shiny objects (as my friend Pat Olp so aptly described) … regardless, I was getting annoyed, for some reason – because I was trying to do some work.  Truth is, she wasn’t harming me…

But I was reading about Jesus again, shortly after the crowd of people told him to leave because they didn’t want him around.  (1st mark of frustration.)  As soon as the boat landed on the return trip, he was surrounded by a crowd of people who had been following a soldier who planned on petitioning Jesus.  (2nd mark of frustration.)  The man petitions Jesus.  (#3)  Jesus complies with the mans request and begins the long walk to the town where the man’s daughter (who was dying) lived.  (#4)  Along the way the crowd swells and people are constantly brushing up against him, calling out his name, shouting out requests, etc. (#’s 5, 6, & 7).  Finally a very sick woman gets close enough to grasp ahold of his clothing, believing that she will be healed of her sickness, hoping to not be noticed…Jesus notices.  (#8).

And He responds:

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  (Mark 5.34)

No frustration.  Just compassion.

I wish I was more like Jesus.