Allison Janae Blog

I often desire a special structure to a day, little elements of meaning throughout each moment to add depth and stability to otherwise mundane things. Take for instance, reading a liturgy from Every Moment Holy to be read for “Domestic Days”. 

I had such a day yesterday, but a phone call with a friend upset my “perfectly” crafted rhythm for the day, and I never ended up reading the liturgy. I felt very frustrated about it. It is such a trivial frustration, yet the upset of what I had perceived to be “perfect balance” and structure in my day proved to throw me through a loop. 

How often do disruptions in our routine or planned schedule cause great irritation, even bitterness, in us? I know for me, it’s often. This last year has especially challenged me in this area, as I learn to live as a wife and homemaker in new places and around new people. 

But 1 Corinthians has something to tell me about that feeling of irritation when I’m disrupted: 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Cor. 13:5-7

LOVE is NOT irritable or resentful. It doesn’t insist on its own way. Love is all about people, about caring for other human beings, and other people will always be the most common (and often most annoying) source of disruption. 

Walking in the way of Jesus means walking in the way of love. Today, I am learning that the “misordering” of my day, whether caused by another person or circumstances, is a beautiful opportunity for me to choose love, to choose Jesus. For when we love others, we are really loving our Savior. 

So here’s to giving up control over the little things, and letting love reign in even “small” difficulties!