Easter Sunday I was driving to Dallas to pick up my mother so we could take her to worship with us. We were going to the church where our son-in-law is pastor on the Ft. Worth side of the Metroplex. It normally takes about an hour to get to my mother’s house, and it is another 30 minutes from there to the church where we were going.

We encountered an unexpected delay on the way to mom’s house. The power company was working on a line that crossed the six-lane road we were on. Traffic was being funneled down to one lane. It was quite a delay. We were going to arrive at my mom’s house late. It was made even less pleasant by the people who were driving around cars and cutting in front of those of us who were trying to wait patiently. There seemed to be an abnormally high number of rude drivers.

I must confess that I was getting upset with those pushy, rude drivers. Cheryl noticed it, and she grabbed my hand and offered a quick prayer asking God to keep me calm, bless those other drivers, and not let this distract us from what we were celebrating that day. I needed to hear that.

I remembered something I heard on Good Friday. The preacher was talking about how Jesus loved people. He mentioned Jesus’ love for His mother, Peter, John and the thief on the cross. The thought that entered my mind was that He also loved the other thief, the one that was mocking Him and did not ask for mercy. He loved the soldiers who were killing Him. He loved the scribes and Pharisees and the Sanhedrin who wanted Him executed. He loves those who cut people off in traffic. He loves those who don’t know or believe in Him.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Lord, forgive my impatience with others. Help me to live and speak and act in ways that will help those who don’t know or believe in you to see what a good, kind, loving and forgiving God you are. Amen.

By the way, we made it to worship in plenty of time and had a wonderful celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. I hope you did, too, and continue to celebrate that Good News.