Thought for the day....... Giving it to the Lord

A while back I was talking to a friend who many see as one of the happiest women around. Knowing this woman I have been let in on many times in her life that things were not peachy to say the least. One day she told me how she had to get home to change so that she could meet her father for lunch. I didn't think much of it at first but then I remembered how she had previously told me that her mother lived with her. The story started when her father left her Mom with several young children, no job nor employable skills and just never looked back,not even to pay child support. I stood for a minute wondering if I had heard right. My hesitation must have said volumes as my friend replied" yes he left when we were little and it was tough. Mom did all that she could and family helped. I remember the first time my siblings and I seen him a couple years after he left. One of his relatives asked our Mom to let us go to a family event with her. Mom reluctantly agreed . We walked into the relatives house to see Dad on the couch with an unknown woman on his lap. He spoke to us but made no attempt to remove the woman nor even hug us. I will never forget that day as long as I live" I was speechless ! Finally I muttered " when did he come around?" She replied"Well since Mom lives with me he has called my sister about once a year for the last couple and asked us out for lunch. He will not call me for fear of Mom answering the phone" "Wow, I replied, and you go so cheerfully?"
Her only reply was " Oh I gave all that garbage to the Lord years ago" Wow ! Since my friend was rushed, I hugged her good bye and she was on her way. This conversation was not mentioned again, but somehow it laid dormant in my mind.
Until a few days ago, that is. It so happened that I was talking to another friend. I love this friend but truth be told, she is always complaining about this or that. Her aches and pains or who was rude to her, or how someone hurt her feelings twenty years ago always seem to come into every conversation. Again I love her but sometimes she is just too much. Well we were in a conversation about all of her health problems and how she was offended by something or another and My mind flashed back to my friend saying" Oh I gave all that garbage to the Lord years ago" I so wanted to ask this friend to give all her garbage to the Lord, but for some reason I didn't. It wasn't that my friend is not Christian because she is. As am matter of fact she constantly tells everyone that she comes in contact with that she is a Christian, even reminding me quite a bit. Why then ? I guess that mainly I didn't want to seem non caring or rude. The whole thing has me wondering though, Are others biting their tongues where I am concerned ? I mean there are times ........ Maybe all Christians ( and Catholics too)should all take inventory of what we are saying to others. Do any of us set bad examples? I know as much as I hate to say it, I have been guilty. How about you ? Maybe right here and right now we should take inventory. What should you give to the Lord today ?