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Let The Wounds Heal!


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:4-8a) 
 
            Today’s look at my love for God is another hard one and not just my love for God. They seem to be getting harder and deeper. “It keeps no record of wrongs.” I’ve concluded that I have a (very mild) sort of PTSD. There are parts of me that remember things that my conscious mind doesn’t. Like copperheads in leaves, they wait until I stroll close and strike. The traumas aren’t big, now, but they were big when they happened. I can’t change that past, I can only deal with the emotion vipers when they strike. I am trying to learn that the people involved, either when I was a toddler or now aren’t the real problem. The problem is with the injury. As a kid, I sprained my ankles quite a few times. I now live with weak knees. In my last job, I damaged my thumbs. I now deal with arthritis. It does no good to rail against the kid or the employer. The same goes for the emotional injuries. Forgiving those involved (including yourself) is an ongoing but necessary task.
            The same is true with God. I know people who are angry with God because He didn’t answer a prayer 20 years ago, or because He allowed something to happen 50 years ago. The only way to not keep records of wrongs is to forgive – not only as soon after they happen as possible, but every time the viper emotions strike. I know it’s not recommended any more for physical snake bites, but figure out what your equivalent of “sucking out the venom” is and learn to do it. If need be, start with the small injuries and the baby emotional viper bites.
            One of the things I’ve found helpful is talking to God, either on long walks or using a journal prayer. Tell Him about your anger. Bring your grief to him. He already knows but it helps you to tell Him. Trying to hide the injury and the anger only drive the poison deeper. Ask for healing. Ask for understanding. Ask for acceptance. Ask for forgiveness where you’ve done wrong, and forgiveness to others where they’ve wronged you. Let it go as quickly as you can and don’t stop letting go until you have nothing left to let go of.

Comments

  1. Rebekah D. AuthorSeptember 8, 2017 at 3:16 PM

    I agree! It's so easy to blame the rest of the world or even God for our problems, when a lot of times we cause our own problems! Thank you for sharing.

    Commenting as a part of rebekahdevall.wordpress.com/challenge/

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  2. the author girl 48September 9, 2017 at 5:15 AM

    I'm just going to second Rebekah and say I totally agree! I think people have a tendency to hold on to their problems and it actually makes them worse. Thank you!

    Commenting as a part of rebekahdevall.wordpress.com/challenge/

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 16, 2017 at 7:39 AM

    Thank you for your gift of writing and sharing your thoughts. Your transparency and truthfulness is refeshing. God has been teaching me to let go of hurts or offenses quickly. It doesn't always happen as quick as I might want but I do now recognize and can address. My old self was to not acknowledge or later get angry. Both very negative and unhealthy. Learning to be a peacemaker with God's help.

    ReplyDelete

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