Today there was a minor meltdown in our house. The music was turned up too loud which was annoying others, people were grumpy, others were a little thoughtless, and before we knew it we had “chaos in the kitchen.”

It’s always helpful to step back from a situation and assess what is actually going on underneath the surface. We all have our trigger points and touchy moments, but there is usually some backstory, bad habit, or part of our character which needs some work, which causes us to react; and not always in the best way.

Underlying a lot of our petty conflicts is usually a lack of love and preferring one another. Jesus has a way for us to live, and His way, I have discovered is always full of peace and joy, if we care to listen and do what He says. It’s easy to say we love God, yet ignore totally what He says in our day-to-day lives; in how we speak, act and relate to others.

Jesus said, “But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against the house, and it could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock”. (Luke 6:46)

I want to be like that man who built His house on a firm foundation; a foundation of love and preferring others as Jesus wisely advised. Then no matter what “storms”  come they will not cause my house; my life, my relationships, my marriage, my family, my purpose in life to fall. I’d  hazard a guess most people also want their lives to “work”, and to not fall in a big heap of rubble.

The good news is that Jesus gave comprehensive insight and advice to us on how to have a life that “works” when He said, “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them will be “okay”, (actually rock solid), regardless of what happens around them” (Luke 6:46)

Today the “chaos in our kitchen” could easily have been averted if everyone had done exactly that. If we had all simply stopped for a moment, and chosen to do what Jesus said, and loved and preferred one another over ourselves. There would have been no grumping, yelling, phone calls, upsets, or exasperated parents and children. Everything would have been calm and civil.

Jesus so much wants our lives to be one’s that reflect Him, because not only us, but the rest of the world desperately needs to see how love works. Jesus says behave like a follower of me, instead of yourself. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.” (Romans 12:9-10)

Mother Teresa who is mostly remembered for her work with the poorest of the poor in Calcutta was a woman known for her love and preferring of others. She once said something that is both simple and profound; “If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”

Today practice building the kind of life that Jesus promised would enable you to be able to withstand any storm, and focus on establishing a life built on a foundation of love and preferring others before yourself. It’s a sure preventative for “chaos in the kitchen”, and it may well change the world!”

Prayer: Lord please help me to see where I need to build firmer foundations in my life. Where perhaps I have not done life your way, and have used my own wisdom instead of seeking your way of doing things. Forgive me where I have been selfish and put my wants and desires before anyone else’s. Would you please help me to prefer others before myself, and really love others for real. In Jesus Name Amen.