I Hate Pop-ups!

Photo courtesy of: Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’m trying to read a blog post. It’s less than a thousand words. It should take me a minute or so. (I read fast.) But alas!

Pop up! An ad in Spanish—since they know I live in Spain—to buy a car. (As if we didn’t already have one.) I X that and start to read the blog again.

Pop up! An ad from the blog to buy a book on schooling toddlers. Um . . . I had my last toddler exactly twenty-six years ago. I X it, too. Back to the blog post I wanted to read.

Pop up! Subscribe to this blog so you get it in your in-box every single day. Don’t miss this opportunity!

I X that one, too. I mean, I only wanted to read this particular post one time and only because it interested me before I was so rudely interrupted.

I’ve now spent three minutes getting rid of the extras so I can read the last hundred words of the post I wanted to read in the first place.

Whew!

Did I mention I hate pop-ups?

I’m not a fan of real-life pop-ups, either.

People pop-ups. They’re the ones that won’t listen at all because they want to be heard so badly that no one else can have an opportunity. You try and try to get a word in edgewise, but it’s of no use. You’re cut off in each attempt by the expert of all things, the “person pop-up.”

Circumstance pop-ups. I like things all planned out. I like to know what the day’s supposed to look like. I like knowing I have this many minutes or hours here and know what I want to do with that time. But, life happens. Someone might need to go to the hospital, or need counsel, or need a shoulder to cry on. Someone from out-of-town might be stopping in this afternoon, and I need to get a pie in the oven. (I hope they like apple pie!) My husband may need me to hold a ladder or to help him fold a tarp. Our daughter might call or our son’s wife is ready to Skype with us. (What joyful interruptions! Children and grandkids!)

Thought pop-ups. You start to pray, and before you’re finished “Our Father in heaven,” you start thinking about the roast you planned to make for Sunday dinner, and what you might make to go with it, and how you’re going to set the table. Or your mind goes to poor Miss Sadie who has so many needs at this moment. Your sincere prayer time just got stopped because your head went in other directions. Does this ever happen to you? Or is it just me? You have to discipline yourself—it takes effort—to forget about the roast and Miss Sadie and really communicate with the Lord again. (And yes, at the end of your prayer you remember Miss Sadie.)

Ugly thought pop-ups. These are the nasty little snide remarks and comebacks that pop into your head when your husband asks you to do something at a moment’s notice. They might also pop in when a child asks the same question for the thousandth time. Or they might happen—we hope not—when you’re out in public and someone makes a thoughtless comment. (I hope you never actually say what pops into your head!)

Dirty word pop-ups. I think it’s our exposure to the world around us, but sometimes, a curse word will pop into our mind when least we expect it. We don’t read those words, listen to TV programs with cursing, or watch movies with bad words. But all of a sudden, an awful word pops into your mind and surprises you.

Desire pop-ups. Did you ever see a drop-dead gorgeous man and your mind wandered for a second? Be honest. It happens. Some women even “fall in love” with movie stars or the men in novels!

Want-one-of-those pop-ups. You walk in a friend’s home, and her oak floors are perfect, her furniture is color-coordinated, and the pillows on the sofa are in the most awesome prints you ever saw. Everything is clean and modern and beautiful. Your head says to you, “I have to have . . . .” Or, you see a girlfriend while you’re shopping. She’s dressed in the very latest, and the color is just scrumptious. Her shoes are adorable. Green envy pops up as you look down at your worn jeans skirt and ballet flats.

What can you do about the pop-ups in your life?

Here’s some biblical help for the pop-ups I mentioned:

• Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Philippians 2:3).
• The steps of a good man (or woman) are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way (Psalm 37:23).
• And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
• Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
• Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).
• For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20).

God bless you!