“Nothing else but this seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only the instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring . . .
“The human beings around us are often the bottles that hold our medicine, but it is our Father’s hand of love that pours out the medicine, and compels us to drink it . . . ”
~Hannah Whitall Smith in The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life
Joyce Landorf describes those who annoy us or bring us pain (and who are usually related to us in some way) our irregular people. Can you see God in your irregular person? How has that person helped change you for the good?
Still drinking the medicine,
Sandy
Welcome to Still Saturday where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and words. We’d love for you to join us. Get the details on the left, grab your favorite button, and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to gaze long and drink deep.
Elizabeth says
May 24, 2013 at 10:34 pmI love the classic, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life! Thank you for sharing this quote from one of my favorites. Also, thanks so much for being such a gracious hostess each week.
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 8:41 amThank you, Elizabeth, for sharing the stillness with us.
Lyli@3dLessons4Life says
May 24, 2013 at 11:27 pmOh, here is a book I have not read that I obviously need to add to my list…. wow!
Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, Sandy! 🙂
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 8:42 amSmith or Landorf? They’re both very different and both good. Smith is a classic. 🙂
A beautiful weekend to you, too, my friend.
Mia says
May 25, 2013 at 4:14 amDear Sandra
If I remind myself that I am also someone else’s irregular person, it stands to reason that if I want to be treated with love and respect, I first need to do so towards my irregular family, don’t you think. I love Hannah Whitehall Smith’s work.
God bless you this weekend, Sandra
Mia
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 8:43 amOh Mia. Thank you for that reminder. That we are also someone’s irregular person.
Joanne Viola says
May 25, 2013 at 6:52 amBoth books contain wonderful truths. I read Irregular People years ago & was never able to hold onto my copy. I truly do not know how many I “lent” & never got back 🙂 Oh, to always remember that irregular people are hurt people themselves. Thank you for the reminder!
Blessings,
Joanne
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 8:47 amExactly, Joanne! Those who hurt–hurt. Thank you.
Beth says
May 25, 2013 at 7:34 amMy reading list keeps growing. I’m hoping for many “Still Saturday’s” with warm weather and time on my patio with a good book. Thanks for sharing. I lead a devotional last night on loving like Jesus and I focused on how to love we need to stop, look, and listen. The quotes you shared remind me we need to see the irregular and regular. Don’t we all just long to be seen?
Thank you for hosting. Blessings to you. Beth
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 8:48 amTo be noticed–yes. And that takes time, takes being still for us to notice. I’m so glad we’re not invisible to Him.
Patricia @ Pollywog Creek says
May 25, 2013 at 7:42 amI see His undeniable fingerprints in the wonder of His creation. xox
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 9:13 amMe, too! And I see Him in you. But you are not irregular to me. 🙂
Kris says
May 25, 2013 at 8:48 amHmmmm, the irregular people in our lives… Surely I am one as well…. Thanks for this Sandy. You make me think.
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 9:14 amSurely I am one, too!
stephani says
May 25, 2013 at 9:31 amSo, so needed this today!
Sandra says
May 25, 2013 at 9:39 amPraying for you this morning, friend.
Carol says
May 25, 2013 at 11:22 amWe are all broken in different ways . . . good words from Hannah Whitall Smith to meditate on.
Have a blessed holiday weekend.
Michelle DeRusha says
May 25, 2013 at 12:48 pmHannah Whitall Smith is one of the 50 women in my book – I read that book for my research! It was so good — so many wise nuggets in there … I plan to go back and read it more slowly after I am done with this project.
Melissa says
May 26, 2013 at 12:22 amHow is #50 coming along? Easily I do hope.
Sheila Seiler Lagrand says
May 25, 2013 at 1:40 pmThese irregular people, I’ve been letting them spin me around. This advice is so much better. Thank you, Sandra.
And thank you for hosting us.
Jody Lee Collins says
May 25, 2013 at 2:35 pmSandy, I woke up with one of those ‘irregular’ people and realized uh, God was speaking, loud and clear, through him. Jesus, give me grace as I continue to ‘take the medicine’ as you say….:-) Thanks for sharing this.
Laurie Collett says
May 25, 2013 at 2:41 pmSuch a beautiful quoted passage. We can see His beauty in all He created. May we see others with His eyes of love. Thanks for hosting & God bless.
Jen Ferguson says
May 25, 2013 at 4:25 pmToday, I see God in how He enabled me to be kind to myself.
Dea says
May 25, 2013 at 8:39 pmdrinking, swallowing…needed that medicine right now….trusting my Great Physician
thanks for sharing this friend
Nina says
May 26, 2013 at 10:43 amThe quote and the thought of seeing God in an “irregular person” is something I’ve also experienced – God is sending often “people with a mission” in our way, even if we may not recognize the mission / work God is doing with us at the moment … I needed this reminder!
Donna McMorrow says
May 26, 2013 at 4:37 pmI am an irregular person myself. Thank you for giving me something to think on.