I actually gasped this morning as I read my son's blog and read of the current issue with one of his boys. I haven't had that happen to me, but have had other things taken and rifled through. It always makes me feel violated. I feel bad; wish I could help. Praying all goes well.
My little sister has two friends seriously ill; one in the final stages of Alzheimers and the other re-diagnosed with cancer. One has been her friend for over 50 years; the other over 30 years. Then our niece by text (wonder who she learned that from?) attacked my sister over something ... well, none of it concerns me, but it just feels like all three things are happening at once and I had to give my sister a call when I read the latest email about the 'attacking' niece. I'm not surprised. Not even surprised at the words in the text. Ironically, some of the words are the same words used by my sister when she attacks me. But, nevertheless, they are hurtful and cruel. So, I called my sister and told her I was sorry she was having to deal with all these things at the same time. I think my call helped; just to let her know that I hear her and I understand. And I have been praying for each of her friends (both whom I also know), for our niece, and for my little sister. People can be cruel when they know they are in the wrong... it's easier to point fingers at someone else than it is to admit our own sin.
Psalm 32:3 (NKJV): "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Lord, I pray to you again and again, but I did not talk about my sins, so I only became more weaker and more miserable."
Isn't that what happens when we pray about everyone else and everything going on around us - but we neglect to confess our own sins? I'm not perfect by any means, but I try very hard to be what I call a 'rapid repenter'. Actually, that isn't my term. I didn't make it up. I got it from my favorite devotional book - he talks about being a 'rapid repenter'. Don't hold on to grievances, don't hold on to things I do wrong. Immediately confess them, and be clean of them, so that I can go to God freely without things hindering my prayers. Does that make sense?
Did I lose my temper? I need not only to apologize to the person I offended with my temper, but I need to also repent of it to God, because I allowed my emotions to get control of reason. I may be getting older, and I pray that I am also getting wiser. Sometimes it takes that (NICS Mark Harmon) Gibbs slap against the back of the head to get my attention I need to do something. And, sometimes, I don't realize I need to 'repent' of anything. I don't realize I offended someone.
Reminds me of something I did at my male boss a few months back. I had taken some time off and when I came back to work, he sent me a Teams message and was giving me all sorts of things to accomplish for him. When he finished, I sent him a message back that basically said, "welcome back. Hope you had a good time. I missed you while you were gone." And then I added.... "Sometimes you need to inquire of your staff how they are doing when they have been off and not ignore they are a person just as you are." And yes, he did receive my message, and he did apologize. Have not had that problem with him since.
Sometimes, when people offend us, we need to confront the issue head on. The more we hold it in, the more it festers and it becomes our sin as well. I know I have a tendency to avoid conflicts and confrontations... and as I pray, I am able to see what really was the offense and where did it come from. Some people have no filter. Some people are arrogant and proud. Some people are so insecure they act like they have more than they have. Some people are always angry; some people are always depressed; some people we have called 'drama people' because unless something isn't going on in their life that's tragic, they don't have a life. Does any of this make sense? I don't know about you, but as I was listing those, I thought of several people (including me at times), that live like this.
When these things happen, I try to step back and see what is going on behind the scene. What is causing the offense to come up? With my sister, it took my brother to bring it to my attention; she is jealous of me. And it's silly. Jealous I'm still working. She could have. She still could. But she has every excuse you can think of not to be. And now with NOT working for over 15 years.... I don't know if she could hold a job, if you know what I mean. With my niece texting my sister? I feel it is her own guilty feelings. What was the text about? My sister was asked how the relationship was with the niece and her children, and my sister mentioned she hadn't seen them since before Thanksgiving... and the niece is saying she was having a pity party. Sounds more like guilt because she hasn't been around to me. Oh well, I'm no psychologist. And neither are you. But sometimes we need to step back out of the offense, the issue, and look at where it could have come from.
And we all need to quit using the excuse "that's the way I was brought up". Just because one was brought up a certain way does not mean they have to stay that way. It is a choice to be like the past, or to be a better person because you can. I could have easily lived in my past and I would be miserable. Lord knows how miserable I could be if I chose. But I choose LIFE. I choose to LIVE. I choose to not be what my past was. I still make wrong choices at times, but I have learned to pick myself up off the floor and dust myself off, and stand on my own two feet and take responsibility for my words and my actions. If I'm wrong, I apologize. If I'm not wrong, I try to understand and make amends with others.
Yipes - I need to get on my work computer! Time is flying by. Hope you have a great day!
Blessings!
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