Matthew 7:12 Archives - There Goes Connie

A Chance to “Do Unto Others” What Others “Did Unto Me”

09/20/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Between the summer of 1998 and Christmas of 1999, the original Pearson 5 went into Wedding Marathon Mode. Yes. All three Pearson children got married between August 1, 1998 and December 18, 1999. It required notebook upon notebook of appointments, decisions and plans . . . and Steve would add lots of checks being written. Gulp!

In addition to choosing dresses, cakes, music, reception food, flowers, invitation styles and a million other details, both girls had their receptions at our house (requiring major landscaping work), and our son got married in Birmingham the week before Christmas. Whoa!!!

I believe that all three couples got what they were hoping for out of their special days, and my mind only brings back a few hiccups after all these years. But, what I’m thinking about today are all of the friends who contributed to the merriment with prenuptial parties and TONS of beautiful gifts.

There were engagement parties, bridal teas, family recipe parties, tea towel showers, tool and gadget barbecues, a Christmas brunch, kitchen showers, linen showers, bridesmaids luncheons and even a Sip ‘n See where friends were invited to come, drink a refreshing summer drink and oohh and aahhh over all of the pretty presents. Our friends were the ones who hosted these events, and they showered Steve and me with love and generosity, as well as our children. We were overwhelmed with their hard work and willingness to invest in our children’s happy times during those months. If you’re reading this, you know who you are. Please know how much I still treasure all you did in those months for our children.

Tonight a couple of friends and I are hosting a shower for a dear friend’s daughter. It feels really good to do for someone else — even if it’s just in a small way — what others did for me. The other hostesses and I have known the bride’s Mom and Dad for at least 40 years. We love the family dearly and hope we can make their daughter feel special.

The New International Version sums up Matthew 7:12 like this:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

The Message paraphrase puts it this way:

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”

When Jesus gave us that command, He knew what an extraordinary environment it would create and how fulfilled we would be as a result of following it. As is true of everything He asked us to do, it was/IS for our own good.

I suppose I’m doing things backwards, in that I’m “doing for others” what was already “done for me.” So let’s just say that I still remember and appreciate (over 20 years later) how wonderful it felt to be the recipient of actions that demonstrated love, and I’m looking forward to pouring love on someone else tonight.

Do Unto Others

08/11/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Matthew 7:12 (Words of Jesus) “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

“Do unto others. . . .” “Do unto others. . . .” Over and over these words have been playing in a loop in my head in recent days and months. And I have been realizing that following this command of Jesus’ is often costly, financially and in terms of hard work.

A week ago, while the packers were busy in other parts of the house, I was wiping out cabinets and drawers, cleaning the microwave, polishing countertops, sweeping and mopping because I want to leave the house for the new owners like I hope someone is leaving the house that Steve and I will be moving into. If they don’t, I’ll just clean it, too. After all, I’m not accountable for THEIR actions, but as a Christ follower, I am accountable to Him for my actions. Somehow it mattered to me to have the house better than just move-in-ready. When the neighbors come around and mention “the Pearsons who used to live here,” I want so much for the new owners to already have a positive impression of us based on the condition of the house and yard. It’s well worth the sweat and energy expended.

The new owners submitted a list of repairs that they wanted us to make. We have checked everything off of that list, but we knew of a few others things that deserved attention. Most of these items have cost money. Let me just say it — moving isn’t cheap. But again, wouldn’t we want the owners where we’re moving to have the appliances, plumbing, electrical wiring and air conditioning in good working order? Well then, that’s what we want for the people moving into our present house.

Jesus told us to treat people the way we want to be treated. His words go WAY beyond the condition of our homes. I believe He was also talking about respect, honesty, courtesy and kindness. When I listen to the nightly news, I’m afraid I don’t see much evidence of people living by Jesus’ words. But wouldn’t we ALL be better off if we did?

Anyway, that’s just something I was convicted about recently. I’d love to hear how God has been pricking your heart.

Lining Up the Dominoes

06/02/2017 By: CCPearson4 Comments

It’s been a heavy thinking kind of week. Can you relate?

Have any of you sold a house and/or bought one lately? Attracting a buyer is just a tiny first step, it seems. The buyer has to look AT LEAST TWICE at your house and choose your house out of all the other possibilities AND provide proof that he/she is financially qualified to buy your house. Then, the buyer looks at your list price and all of the “extras” inside your home (drapes, certain furniture pieces, equipment specific to your home’s maintenance, etc.) and decides how much to offer, which of the extras he hopes to keep AND when he wants to take possession of your home. And, in the best case scenario, this buyer has the money in his pocket or a buyer lined up to buy HIS house. If not, the process of getting a mortgage begins.

In the meantime, you have to decide where you want to move when the deal on your present house has been completed. You find one, and the negotiations begin on the future house. You make an offer. The owner makes a counter-offer. You make a counter offer, etc. etc.

If all the dominoes line up, you have a wonderful process of buying, selling and everyone getting what they want. If the dominoes DON’T line up, you get a big ol’ mess. When one deal falls through, there are others down the line falling through as well.

What one person decides ultimately has an effect on a lot of other people, and the realtors are caught trying to make everybody happy. If only all the “players” were playing by the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 New Living Translation Wouldn’t it be amazing if everyone involved in a real estate transaction, OR ANY TRANSACTION for that matter, was committed to fairness, transparency, honesty and truthfulness?

As of this morning, my dominoes are not lined up as they should be. Is this when a “leap of faith” is in order? Should I assume that the buyer is a gift from God and a sign of some kind that it’s okay to move forward even when the unknowns outnumber the knowns? Or, is this one of those times when I’m supposed to “watch and pray” or “wait patiently on the Lord for He cares for you.”

That last paragraph sounded mighty “churchy” even to my own ears. Sometimes the next step just isn’t illuminated clearly. Sometimes the decisions we make have unintended, uncomfortable consequences. Sometimes WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW.

Reverend Junior Hill, popular evangelist from Hartselle, AL used to say, “When you don’t know what to do, just keep doing what you KNOW to do until you know what to do.”

I know I’m supposed to ask God to guide me.

I know I’m supposed to search God’s Word for biblical principles that apply.

I know I’m supposed to be fair, transparent, honest and truthful.

I know I’m supposed to treat my fellow humans (and those involved in any business deal with me) as I would have them to treat me.

Oh for a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night!! Exodus 13:21-22 “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

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