Choosing Grace over Irritation
In Matthew chapter 22, verses 35-39 it says: “A lawyer asked Jesus a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is greatest?’ Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” We have all at some point quoted this or had it cross our minds as we encountered someone who challenged us. And earlier in Matthew chapter 5:43-48, Jesus intentionally expands the command: “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’” Why does Jesus always make it harder? This week as I have been surrounded by the world’s deadliest animal I have wondered whether Jesus also meant that we had to love our enemy - the mosquito!
The mosquito isn’t evil. It’s simply doing what mosquitoes do. It reminds me that sometimes my frustration says more about me that it does about the thing that is bothering me. I don’t have to like mosquitoes to recognize that they are part of God’s creation. The fact of the matter is that even the mosquito has a place in creation. It feeds birds, bats, fish, and dragonflies. Truth be told, I have no idea why God created mosquitoes, but they do remind me that the world wasn’t designed solely around my comfort!
What is Jesus trying to teach us? Perhaps it is that loving our enemies isn’t about feeling affection, but rather it is about refusing to let irritation take over our hearts. If I take a step back and think about it, every mosquito bite gives me a chance - however small- to notice how quickly annoyance can grow. If I can practice patience with the little irritations of life, perhaps I’ll be better prepared for the bigger challenges of loving difficult people.
All that being said, I will swat the mosquito if it’s about to bite me. Loving doesn’t mean abandoning wisdom or healthy boundaries. But maybe, before I do, I will remember that even this tiny creature reminds me how much growing I still have to do.
I found a quote this week from an unknown source that said, “A person asked a gardener why their plants grow so beautifully? The gardener said, “I don’t force them to grow, I remove what stops them.” Unfortunately, I don’t think removing the mosquito in this case is what God is going to do. I think I need to look a little deeper into my soul to see what I really need to remove in order to grow in my faith. So I have decided to write a letter to the Mosquito. “Dear Mosquito, must it always be me? Out of all the people outside today, you somehow find me every time. Your timing is impeccable - always arriving just as I settle into peace and quiet. You have taught me that patiences is harder than I imagined. You have reminded me how quickly a tiny irritation can become a big frustration. You have shown me that even someone who speaks about love can be tempted to swat first and think later. I still don’t understand your purpose, but I thank you for reminding me that loving isn’t measured when life is easy. It is revealed in those small, everyday moments when I must choose grace over irritation, patiences over anger, and wonder over complaint. Now if you don’t mind finding someone else tonight, I would be eternally grateful!
Blessing, Rev. Karen