
20 Feb Am I Overreacting?
I don’t know how to describe the feeling I felt that day; anger, sadness or disappointment. Maybe it is all of them rolled in one. I have known for a long time that what we give in life is what we get, we cannot hope for a good life, health or country without giving good.
Back to the feeling I felt on this day… Okay let me just say exactly what happened. We were on our way to the airport. I rode in a brother’s car while my husband rode with our very special guest and a member of his team. My husband and our guest were ahead of us, they were not really within sight. As we approached the toll we slowed down to pay, after we paid, that was when it happened, that was when all those feelings came rushing in, that was when I got a little bit alarmed, and no, it was not an accident, no harm was attempted on our lives…
What happened?
He threw the ticket out the window and wound up. Ouch!!! Those feelings came rushing in, disappointment, sadness or pain… I really cannot put a finger on one, but I know whatever that/those feeling(s) was/were, it/they was/were not good at all!
The Argument
I turned to my left and looking at him I said, “You shouldn’t have done that.”
He asked, “what?” and I told him he shouldn’t have thrown the ticket out his window. I told him he shouldn’t be part of the people who litter the streets in our country.
He asked what he should have done and I told him he should have dropped it in his car and clean out his car later or when he gets home.
He told me he couldn’t pay the toll charges and still clean up for them, he said that all the monies collected at the toll are not being used appropriately; he said they should spend some of the money to clean the roads around the toll…
I told him he should do his own bit, I asked him what he thinks our country would look like if all of us decided to litter our streets.
He said that he does not litter any other street but the toll street; he just wanted the government to do their job.
I told him that he should do the right thing whether or not anybody else is; I asked him what he would tell his three children if they had seen and confronted him…
Well, we went on and on…he told me the toll money should be used to clean the toll road and I told him it was wrong of him to throw the ticket out the window. We were just going on and on until we got to the airport.
I didn’t think of it then but isn’t the ticket his property now? Isn’t he responsible to make sure it is properly kept or disposed?
My Thoughts
I know some governments are not leaving up to their responsibilities but should that be an excuse for citizens to go do what they know is not right?
Aren’t believers supposed to be examples of what it means to do the right thing no matter what? Even in a country were lawlessness is real and tangible, shouldn’t we shine our lights and show others how possible it is to live right in a dark world?
My brother I rode with in his car insisted he was right to throw his ticket on the road because the government was not doing their bit. I love him but I told him till the end, that he was wrong and I told him I was going to write about it.
So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 (AMP)
What About You?
Do you think we should go ahead to do wrong because our government is doing wrong, even when we know what we are doing is wrong?
Do you think that “little things “ like littering the streets don’t matter to God, do you think it is all right to throw stuff around because our government is not leading effectively, do you think that two wrongs can ever make right, do you think I am overreacting?
Please share your thoughts in the comment box and share with your social media friends!
Copyright© Ugochi Oritsejolomisan 2014
bluecottonmemory
Posted at 17:07h, 24 FebruaryI always get frustrated when people do not see the good points that I am making! LOL – I wonder if he was just embarrassed at getting caught and really did agree with you – but wasn’t going to admit it then. My boys always opt into opposition debate when they’re called on the carpet!!!
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 21:06h, 24 FebruaryLol! I think he was just too angry with the nation’s leaders to see that by littering the streets he would just be like them.
Thanks for coming by and leaving your thoughts, maybe he was just embarrassed…
annette
Posted at 01:33h, 23 FebruaryPersonally I think you made a mountain out of a molehill and could have handled it much better. So he tossed some litter out the window… Not a good thing….but carrying on about it wasn’t necessary either…how is that showing Christ to the world? You could simply have asked. Stated your counter point and then have been done with it.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 19:30h, 23 FebruaryI was very calm about it Annette, I may have insisted on showing him he was wrong, maybe I should not have carried on but I was very calm and polite about it. Any ways, thanks a lot for being honest about your thoughts, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Kenya G. Johnson
Posted at 02:14h, 22 FebruaryNope not cool. And to intentionally do something wrong to prove a point or to have some expectation about the result is wrong. I don’t think you overreacted at all – thanks for speaking up.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 19:23h, 23 FebruaryThanks a lot Kenya! I believe it is very wrong to intentionally do wrong, thanks a lot for coming by and leaving your thoughts. Do have a super blessed day!
Love
Justin M. Davito
Posted at 21:35h, 20 FebruaryI don’t think he should have littered. How does littering respect our authorities?
That’s like a son making a mess in the living room because his mom forgot to clean up after herself.
Set the exam and serve.
-Justin
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:15h, 20 FebruaryGreat analogy Justin, it really does not make any sense. We SHOULD be The Example!
Thanks for coming by, do have a super blessed day!
Susie (The Esthetic Goddess)
Posted at 20:57h, 20 FebruaryI think all the good things you do in life, whether they are big or small, matter. You get what you give.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:16h, 20 FebruaryExactly! The little things count much. Thanks a lot for coming by Susie, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Lynda
Posted at 23:52h, 20 FebruarySo, what if a child or an unbeliever saw what he did? We are to be set apart, different from the world, examples of God’s goodness and grace. Live as a peculiar people!
What if Jesus was in the car in physical form? Do you think he would have thrown it out then? I don’t think so.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 19:21h, 23 FebruaryI believe so too Lynda, we SHOULD live as peculiar people! Thank you for coming by and leaving your thoughts, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Praise
Posted at 22:08h, 20 FebruaryUgochi, pleeeaaaaseeee don’t do this to me again.
Your preamble got me so interested and I was wondering, ” What is this all about?”
That said.
I use that toll gate often and all my receipts are always kept in my car. I do this to protect myself until I am back home.
We are the government. It is our nation. There is no they/them/their versus us. We should hold ourselves responsible for doing the things that we have the power to do. There are no little things. Everything is important if we want to live in a sane and organised society.
No one, I repeat, none throws anything out of my car unless it is thrown into a thrashcan.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:12h, 20 FebruaryI am so sorry… had to spill the way I felt. I am glad I am not the only one, it wouldn’t have changed anything though because truth remains truth. And I agree with you, we are the nation.
Thanks a lot for coming by and sharing with us here, do have a super blessed time!
LuAnn Braley
Posted at 21:41h, 20 FebruaryI would tend to agree with you, Ugochi. It reminds me of a story about an artisan working on a great medieval cathedral, taking meticulous care in the making of a carving that was very high up. Someone came along and asked him why he was putting so much work into something that no one would ever see. The artist’s reply? “God will see.”
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:13h, 20 FebruaryYes indeed, God sees even when no one else does. So we all ought to do what is right because it is right and God sees. Thanks a lot LuAnn for coming by, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Lisa notes
Posted at 16:38h, 20 FebruaryI don’t think you’re overreacting either. God calls us to be faithful in “little things” to show we can be trusted with bigger things.
“Aren’t believers supposed to be examples of what it means to do the right thing no matter what?” Yes; I totally agree with you.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:20h, 20 FebruaryOh yes! We cannot count any good thing as “little”. We all ought to do the right thing no matter what. Thanks a lot for coming by Lisa, do have a super blessed day!
Love
UZO
Posted at 14:49h, 20 FebruaryDEAR SISTER,
YOU ARE NOT OVERREACTING AT ALL. AS CHRISTIANS WE OUGHT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AT ALL TIMES.
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:17h, 20 February… At all times my sister. Thanks a lot for coming by, do have a super blessed day!
Love
Gentle Joy
Posted at 14:47h, 20 FebruaryThis is so true – especially in our culture today……there are all kinds of reasons given why it is okay to do what would have readily been called sin a few years ago. The fact is………it is still sin, no matter what reasoning (rationalizing!!!) is used. God still wants us to deny ourselves, to be responsible, to think of others, etc. Thank you for posting this…..
Gentle Joy
Ugochi Jolomi
Posted at 23:18h, 20 February…God still wants us to be responsible indeed Gentle Joy, we all ought to do the right thing.
Thanks a lot for coming by and sharing your thoughts, do have a super blessed day!
Love