I checked for blood.
When I didn’t see any, I checked again.
The prick was bad enough to sting but not deep enough to break the skin. Nevertheless, I rubbed my wrist until it turned red.
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY
My eyes roamed upward from the steady drops forming puddles in the yard to the heavy clouds promising more where they came from. The weather app displayed clouds and raindrop icons over the remaining days of the week. Just as well, tomorrow would be punctuated by the obligatory seven hours set aside for my infusion. The corner of my mouth turned down as I pressed my lips together recalling the abundant sunshine my last treatment stole from me. Three weeks rolls around way too soon.
Clicking on my calendar confirmed Easter was only a couple of weeks away, so a self-imposed sense of urgency sent me tromping around in the flower beds. My raincoat dripping and my rain shoes muddy by the time I finished collecting a handful of hyacinths and daffodils. To complete the arrangement, I added “yellow sprigs” as my daughter calls them. My grandmother would have you to know, that is forsythia.
Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days… ” ASV
NOT MUCH
I must have thrown away the worn rabbits and plastic eggs I collected over the years because the “Easter shelf” in my seasonal decorations cabinet was mostly empty. Nevertheless, I figured my bit of holiday décor would be wasted if I didn’t set it out soon. As I set the flower-filled vase inside a genuine crown of thorns, a thorn caught my wrist. Those thorns are genuinely wicked too.
Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions.” NIV
SKIPPING LENT
I didn’t celebrate Lent this year. It must have slipped right by me while I was dodging one of the curve balls of life. I know, it sounds like an excuse. At least I remembered the crown; the one in my cabinet. When I handled it, I remembered the cross. In my mind, I saw Jesus wearing a similar crown and hesitated to put the replica on a festive pink table runner with a spring bouquet .
Matthew 27:29, “And twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head…” ESV
MINOR WOUND
The vicious thorn barely left a mark on my wrist, unlike the gashes that must have been on His scalp. Still, I glanced at it every few seconds expecting it to erupt like Old Faithful over my radial artery. I rubbed it with my thumb to stop the stinging which only irritated it more. I should have left it alone and concentrated on bunnies and fake carrots.
It’s not the first time trivial hurt has ruined my day.
Galatians 5:15, “If you bite and ravage each other, watch out – in no time at all you will be annihilating each other.” MSG
RIDICULOUS
Good grief, the impending IV site would leave more evidence of injury. I let a little hurt distract me from enjoying the moment. You probably have too. A careless word, a misunderstanding or even an intentional jab doesn’t draw blood or even need a band-aid, yet, we focus on it, keep irritating it, then wonder why it still bothers us.
Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.” HCSB
HOW MUCH?
Jesus forgave those who disappointed Him, mocked Him, betrayed Him, tormented Him, falsely accused Him, turned their back on Him, and lied about Him. Maybe I should rethink a few minor wounds.
Matthew 18:22, “Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'” NKJV
FOLLOW THE LEADER
I remember in elementary school all the kids lined up and put our hands on the waist of the person in front of us and sang:
Put your right forward, put you left foot out. Do the bunny hop. Hop, hop, hop.
Once I even remember the conga-line led by someone dressed up as a rabbit, or I might have imagined that. Anyway, forgiveness is hard. It can be really, really hard. Forgive anyway. Follow Jesus; He set the example for us. Put your focus firmly on Him and put your right foot forward.
Luke 23:34, “Jesus said, ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” NIV
How to ruin a good day Click To Tweet
Are you allowing a little scratch to ruin your day? Even if it stings, forgive others. Put your right foot forward.
Sometimes we are the thorn and even though we have been truly forgiven we still remember the pain we caused, even briefly.
So true
Plasmapharesis every three weeks?
No IVIG. I probably should have linked to my post “I made friends with my enemy”
Love this, Vickie! Good food for thought!
Sometimes when we find forgiveness difficult, it can be because we are mistaken about what it means to forgive. It is so simple and we try to make it so hard.
True. Really deep but true
Forgiveness – gives the forgiver peace and doesn’t allow satan an opportunity to come between us and God…. It is hard though.
Thanks for your wisdom …
An opportunity he’s constantly looking for
Wonderful meditation on the true meaning of Easter and our struggles to forgive. Thank you.
I needed this perspective today. Oh how I’ve whined over these minor wounds… for years.
Sometimes we ARE the thorn——sometimes we are on the receiving end of the thorn…… Either way we need God and his marvelous grace……