When Best Intentions Run Awry

This didn't go as planned!

To Grand sonny's 7 yr. old logic it made perfect sense to take a stick

 and whack the snow and ice out of this little china bird-feeder,

completely unaware that Gramma received it for Christmas

 from a family she did childcare for, 

and who thoughtfully picked out this bird and tea lover's gift .

Gramma, (as she came upon the scene of Grandson 

beating the feeder to bits after 'it was broken anyway' 

and before she heard the explanation that caused 

what appeared to be radical unreason!!) 

did not react as patiently as she should have, ahem!!

And then Gramma apologized for her quick and quite annoyed reaction,

and gave him a little 'explanation' on why she treasured it

and on respecting people's things. 😓😅

Grandsonny was very sorry💔💗

It reminded me of how we all sometimes are part of best intention run amuck.

He was simply going to get rid of the ice😂😇

but, no matter how well-intended the objective

 if, when all is said and done

we leave someone wounded/broken or in retrospect realize

our intentions were misguided,

 we owe repentance and apology to whom it is due

however noble our initial intentions were!

The above episode may seem like a pale example,

but the principle  is the same, 

no matter what the details of the issue.

As we mature we realize even compassion can make mistakes.

Sometimes love can get a bit tangled in that fine line 

between sinner and sin!

Oh God, help us all (Whether leader or laity)

 to be humble enough always, to stand corrected!

Would that we be sorry when we should!

God is faithful to help us pick up the pieces,

and move forward by His grace,

for His glory!

Sometimes our best intentions run awry

The good-we-would misses the mark we sought

And every earnest explanation ‘why’

Cannot suffice to fix the wrong it wrought

Sometimes stumbles can test the ‘humblest’ heart

Surprising Self with startling clarity

When Noble Reason errs, (if but in part)

Wreaking havoc from flawed integrity

Fumbles can foster brutal wake-up calls

With jolts intended to open our eyes

Because no one is above pride’s pitfalls

Or too superior to apologize

Then, sometimes all it takes to get along

Rather than justify the cause so much

Is to say ‘I am sorry, I was wrong’

Then let forgiveness work its healing touch

Sometimes our best intentions run askew

The good-we-would leaves shambles in its wake

And every explanation will not do

Other than owning up to love’s mistake

© Janet Martin

Dear Lord, remind us, rather than stooping to sling stones,

to bow humbled hearts before you in prayer for one another!

John 8:2-11

Now [a]early in the morning He came again into the temple, 

and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 

3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery.

 And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him,

 “Teacher, [b]this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

 5 Now [c]Moses, in the law, commanded us [d]that such should be stoned. 

But what do You [e]say?” 

6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him.

 But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, [f]as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He [g]raised Himself up and said to them,

 “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 

8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9 Then those who heard it, being[h] convicted by their conscience, went out one by one,

 beginning with the oldest even to the last. 

And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up [i]and saw no one but the woman, 

He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers [j]of yours? 

Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; 

go [k]and sin no more.”