March 22

Written by Bill Grandi on March 22nd, 2023

We often talk about being different. Diverse is the word that is used. And we are. God has made us different in personality, looks, reactions, intelligence, etc. But there are some ways we are all alike. One way in particular. Let me put it this way:

Taking things for granted is bad. Taking people for granted is worse.

That’s right. All of us are guilty of taking things and people for granted.

We walk out of the house in the morning and we expect our vehicle to start. When I hit the remote start for my truck, I don’t first stop and ask, “Well, will it or will it not start this morning?” No. Unless you have been having trouble with your truck/car starting, you just assume it will.

When I go to the office shortly, I’m not going to look at my X-chair and ponder the probability of it collapsing when I sit in it.

I just assume, I just take for grated my truck will start and my chair will hold me up.

Worse is taking people for granted:

  • Jo and I celebrate 50 years of marriage on June 16 (Lord willing). The way to destroy a marriage is to take each other for granted.Β  As the old song says, “I love her more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.”
  • A child/teen takes his/her parents for granted failing to appreciate their love or expressing love to them.
  • I take the folks in the church I pastor for granted if I fail to shepherd them and show them love.

Like many things, you don’t seem to appreciate people or what they do or how they added to your life until they are gone.

Taking things for granted is bad. Taking people for granted is worse. Taking God for granted is the “worsest.” (Sorry for the poor English).Β  πŸ™‚Β  In Revelation 2 the church at Ephesus is told “You have left your first love.” A lot can be said, a lot of questions can be asked about that and its meaning, but let’s just suffice it to say the church found someone or something else to draw their affection and attention. They found another “first place.”

That begs the question: have I left my first love? If so, what am I going to do about it?

 

10 Comments so far ↓

  1. Glynn says:

    We’ll hit the big 50 in August. And we’re surrounded by reminders of why you never take people for granted — friends who are ill, and too many funerals to attend.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Congrats Glynn! And yes, the sickness and funerals are a stark reminder of the brevity of life and the aging process.

  2. Ryan S. says:

    50 is an great milestone. With the many ups and downs of life, I am sure there have been conversations around being taken for granted. God has those same conversations with us… I am thankful that He is patient with me, but I do not want to take Him for granted either. Beyond being taken for granted… He should be my primary focus. When I make God my focus, everything else seems to fall into appropriate perspective.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I still hear those conversations Ryan (but don’t tell Jo I said anything.) πŸ™‚ And yes, He needs to be our primary focus.

  3. If we take other people for granted, we’re on the sure road to failure. Congrats to both of you, Bill, for obviously NOT taking one another for granted over all the years, Bill. Your marriage is an example that we should all strive to copy. Lifelong love is a such a gift from heaven!
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I have to give a lot of credit to Jo, Martha. I have been guilty of putting my job and sometimes my cycling ahead of time with her. that is to my shame and her credit for her forgiveness.

  4. gail says:

    Congratulations on the 50th wedding anniversary. That is awesome.
    I have been watching a series, a trip around the sun with Louie Giglio. It’s all about how big God is, that the Creator of the Universe, all of His power, all of wisdom, the Great I am, and how small we are, and yet how much God desires us to be a relationship with Him. We are so important to God, that in a galaxy that dwraps us, we seem so insignificant within that mass, and yet God sees us, loves us, and desires us to be with Him. When you consider how big God truly is, and all He has done, will do for us, how could we not keep Him first in our lives? How could we not follow His commands, and serve those around us? Yet I fall short, I think about all He has done for me, and how I have done so little for Him. The greatest gift in my life, that gift should be revered, glorified, overflow in my heart, and yet I fall short.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Wait until June 16 to see if she stays with me Gail! πŸ™‚ I have a sermon by him along that same line. A DVD. Remember those? Anyway, it is amazing that we matter that much to the Creator who brought all things into existence.

  5. Kari Scare says:

    Great question, Bill. It’s something we should reflect on regularly for sure. One of the best ways to stray from our first love is to do nothing. Reflecting on our answer to this question is a great starting point.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      it is sort of scary when we do reflect on it Kari. It shows us our shortcomings and our need to realign our priorities. thanks for stopping by.