Many people are living in the past with hurts that haunt, grudges that grieve, words that wound, memories that maim, and a myriad of old feelings that block the fresh new life waiting to be lived. How freeing to leave the past where it belongs and trade that old life for a new life. The transformation can be liberating and well worthwhile.
So much advice comes from so many places; sometimes it’s good and other times maybe leaves us a little cold. This warm little gem came to me via Pinterest yesterday. Enough said.
There are many people walking around with hurting hearts. Life lessons come at us from many directions and at one time I read these two online from a Life Lessons site and made note of them:
“One of the happiest moments in life is when you let go of what you cannot change.”
“One of the most courageous decisions you will ever make is to finally let go of whatever is hurting your heart and soul.”
I know, I know…it’s sometimes difficult to let go but it does make sense, don’t you think? There’s help in a little prayer.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Carry a heart that never hates, a smile that never fades,and a touch that never hurts. Happy Wednesday.
Recently I was asked where my blog material comes from and it comes from everywhere; an overheard or general conversation, certain books and authors, TV and radio programs…life itself.
Today it’s from a radio program I listened to on CBC yesterday, about apologies and how effective they can be in healing people and the world.
One segment was about a drunk driver killing two young ladies in a car crash in 2002. The mother of one of them wanted only to see the twenty-two-old young man face to face and hear a sincere apology from him. And she did. It was replayed on radio and I had tears in my eyes and in my heart. These two people, the mother and the killer of her daughter became friends in the end. How? Because forgiveness was asked for and given.
It’s not only a drunk driver who can affect someone’s life. There are many ways of doing that and perhaps with some soul searching, we may see where we have been just as guilty as this young man and say, “I’m sorry, so sorry.”
This song of Brenda Lee’s talks about being too blind to see and not seeing the wrong that’s been done. It’s meant to be a romantic apology but it was played on the radio program and was very effective…it too, brought forth a few tears because of, like the young man, the genuineness of her voice. You can hear both apologies right here on this page.
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/outintheopen Then click on “A drunk driver apologizes…”
Why do we say the things we say
that cut to the core of another’s
very essence…their heart and soul.
Why do we do the things we do
that boldly trample another’s
right to civility and compassion?
Why do we perceive an injustice
that was never the intent
of the friend, the sibling, the parent
the child, to whom we credit the deed.
Why not look into ourselves…
be the healer of the hurts.
Why not walk the high road and be
the balm….not the blister.
©Patricia Ann Boyes
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. NIV
It is so easy to throw a pity party…just invite me, myself, and I, a few bad memories, a couple of hurtful comments, a large box of super soft tissues for the tears and you’re off to the doldrums!
And then some uninvited guests show up. People who actually care about you; who are ready to cry with you, if needed, but more importantly, are there to let you know you’re not alone in sadness.
One such guest showed up this morning, online, and shared with me the story of her cousins who were momentarily about to lose their precious seven-year-old son to cancer. This dear little boy is losing, or has lost, as I write, his battle with that demon disease. I’m crying for this friend and her cousins.
A similar story came my way a couple of years ago, via another friend who witnessed almost the exact same scenario with friends of hers and their seven year old grandson.
A fellow blogger reminded me of the story she posted of her mother succumbing to cancer’s clutches, and the crushing feeling of helplessness she experienced at that time.
And then there was Kristiana, a dear little member of our church, whose face I can see to this day, who also left her family and friends in a state of sadness for her loss, but also a state of happiness for Christ’s gain. She was thirteen and had fought her battle for nine years.
And so I’m reminded, although we don’t expect to be hurt by the ones we love, it happens: whether by death-which is out of our hands-or unkind remarks, which are also out of our hands, we are, if we are caring people, going to be hurt. Guaranteed. It goes without saying, if we don’t care we won’t hurt.
As always, God has a way of catching me off-guard and causing me to smile through my tears. It happened at nine o’clock this morning, when the child in me began to sing “Jesus loves me, this I know…” and that’s all I needed to know. Everything else is secondary.
So, who am I to cry? Just another person who bleeds when cut, and thankful for those who come by with bandages.
May God bless all those who stand by with those boxes of tissues. I love you.
My Precious Life 