She looked familiar, but I’m better with names than faces, so it took a minute for me to place her. However, it only took a fraction of a second to recognize her grudge. She came at me shoving it in my face. Years ago, I offended her and she pounced on the opportunity to remind me when our paths crossed in the produce aisle. Pulling her cart beside mine, she threw up on me. Not literally, but she spewed her saga and verbally jabbed me as a punctuation mark. I forgot the whole incident, but she obviously rehearsed it in her sleep and chucked it in my direction eight years later. She carried her hurts like a bag of rocks waiting for an opportunity to unload. The bag of rocks weighed a ton. Do you need to unload the negativity from your past?
After all these years, isn’t it time to put it down?
Negativity weighs us down like a bag of rocks. Something sets us off and we reach in, grab one and hurl it at the nearest target. Hanging on to negativity festers and drags you down.
In the mid 70’s pet rocks were trending, except we didn’t use that term. We called it a fad because we knew it wouldn’t last. What a gimmick! We actually paid money for a rock, nothing fancy just an ordinary rock. Really it seems idiotic, but then again, I know a lot of people who still have them. In fact, some people have a whole bag of rocks. A few of them have landed right between my eyes.
What weight are you carrying?
Some of us carry a whole bag full of pebbles, minor offenses that we rehearse so the offender doesn’t forget. Problem is, we don’t either. Remember that time you forgot my birthday? Or didn’t invite me? Or talked behind my back? Oh, I’ve forgiven you, but if you offend me again, I’ll pull out a pebble and show it to you. Remember this? It won’t hurt you if I toss it at you, after all it was no big deal, but all those pebbles can get heavy. Especially when we keep collecting them.
Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself #forgive Click To TweetUnload the negativity from your past
“Love…does not keep a record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 HCSB
All of us have been wronged enough to run out of ink if we kept a list. But love,
“Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 MSG
Bag of grudges
Some of us carry boulders: past abuse, lies, abandonment, betrayal. Given a chance we hurl them into the air causing the crowd to duck. We can compare notes if you want, but nah, I’m tired of carrying a bag of rocks and seriously, I’m tired of looking at yours. Trade it in; leave it at the altar.
“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:25 NLT
Don’t drink the poison of unforgiveness. If you’re interested in more, check out my book, “Dressing the Wound.” It’s not a book to read, it’s a book to do.
Burdens are lifted when we give up grudges. Sometimes that is easier said than done. I am thankful God is patient with me.
Definitely easier said than done, but we are the ones who suffer by hanging on
That is my struggle. I do not easily forget and am not quick to forgive!!!! Thanks for sharing an eye opening message.
I’m quick to forgive but forgetting is another matter.