What Stuck?

It always amazes me when God gets my attention through secular books. It is not unexpected for God to speak to me through his Word and through spiritual books, but it's a pleasant surprise when I hear God's voice through a work of fiction. Maybe I was more receptive to this lesson because of another book I read recently, The Bait of Satan by John Bevere, which I recommend highly.

I am reading a book by Scott Turow, entitled The Laws of our Fathers. This courtroom drama is not intended to be religious, but one quote really caught my attention.

The main character, Sonny, sat down at the end of a long day. She had gotten her daughter to sleep and was enjoying a few minutes to unwind. Here is the quote that made me stop and think:

"Now after the parade of the day is over, I find out what has stuck, before it grows into something new in the hothouse of dreams." p. 387

I thought, what a great idea! At the end of each day, ask myself, "What stuck?" Was there a comment someone made at which I took offense? Was there a mean look, a driver who cut me off, or a person who was overheated and decided to take it out on me? Did my kids or my husband make an angry remark? Did a coworker take out their pressures on me? Or, did I do the same to someone else? What stuck?

This would be a great way to take inventory and leave any offenses (or frustrations) from each day in the hands of God, so that I don't inadvertantly store them up, letting them fester into something nasty. This brings to mind a verse from 1 Corinthians 13: [Love] keeps no record of wrongs.

This also relates to Christ's teaching on footwashing. We don't need to be rebaptized every day, but we do need to wash our feet - to get rid of the dirt we've picked up walking around in a fallen world. This can be accomplished through daily confession and repentance.

Asking, "What stuck?" I think I'll try it!