Relating to others...slowing down

​I just read this excerpt, via my email inbox, from one of John Eldredge's books titled; Walking with God. I read the book at least 5 years ago, and right now I'm reading this excerpt with the lens of marriage and family in regards to "others". What really caught my attention was this statement.."We tend to jump in, as opposed to walking with God. Either we give too much or too little, or we offer what is needed, but at the wrong time." Read below in context below. 
 
"People make up a very large part of our lives. We’re surrounded by people. We deal with others every day, from the driver in front of us, to the waitress in the café, to the gal in the next office, to those who share our homes. And they are nearly always, one way or another, in some sort of need. Or crisis. Or self-inflicted drama. And one of the great dangers for the person who has begun to desire to please Christ is that we simply let our conscience be our guide in relating to others. We tend to jump in, as opposed to walking with God. Either we give too much or too little, or we offer what is needed, but at the wrong time.
 
It would be a revealing study to look at the way Jesus relates to people in the Gospel stories. Sometimes he stops midstride to offer a word or a kindness to what seems to me to be a pretty minor character, someone I think I would have ignored. Other times he ducks for cover, dodges an encounter completely (see Luke 5:12–16). He possesses a freedom toward others I find myself longing for.
 
What would happen if we began to ask Jesus what he is saying when it comes to the people in your life?" In answering this question for me, I hear Jesus saying 'slow down Vic, listen to me, trust me and enter into the relationship to build trust.'  

Wow! This goes along with what we mentioned last week, "We cannot let another love us unless we trust them, no matter how much love they have for us." I encourage you to ponder the question this week in the context of your marriage and family; What would happen if we began to ask Jesus what he is saying when it comes to the people in your life?"

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