I read a story today that someone had written about being hurt by the church they went to. Wow, did that hit home with me. It took years for me to get over that same hurt. I am not writing this to go into details because it's just are not that important to me anymore. What is important to me is how I got over all the pain I held on to for years and feeling unworthy. First , I prayed and prayed and prayed some more. I prayed for the church, I prayed for the people that hurt us and I also prayed for my family, and for anyone we had hurt in all the mess. Second, I learned that forgiveness begins with letting go of the anger. When this is done, freedom returns. Then I can pray again for the ones who hurt us and remember they too are a child of God. A lot has been written about forgiveness. I always ask, Is forgiveness possible when I feel so betrayed or hurt? But, the time does come when I can honestly say, YES. What makes forgiveness so difficult in one word is : Anger. I knew what anger could do to me and that is take away my need to forgive. I was giving up freedom and the ability to get on with good work! A powerful paragraph I read in a book said it all for me on forgiveness:
" You will set yourself free from all you thought they did to you. They need not ask for forgiveness to be forgiven. They might even believe that there is nothing for which they need to be forgiven. That is fine. Do not concern yourself with how they choose to experience reality, for it has no effect on you, unless you allow it to. For something or someone to affect you, you must first allow it to affect you." ( TOUCHE')
Third: I read the book , "Balcony People". If you have not read this book you need to!! I know choose to surround myself with good people! It all goes back to the same advice my parents always gave me when I was a teenager: careful who you associate with. And don't get me wrong, I too have made mistakes, and will make more mistakes. I believe we are all wired to prejudge people that is our Achillies Heel in life. But if you want to grow and experience life from a perspective other than your own you need to overcome this potentially debilitating shortcoming. If you are able to accept someone for how they look, their shortcomings, what kind of job they hold, and their past mistakes and future mistakes then you have just found the keys to the kingdom. When you are willing to get to know someone for who they are on the inside and not what they are wearing, how much money they make, how popular they are, ect..., well you have done what most people will never do in a lifetime.
I have learned so much over the years but for me now when looking for new friends it is not about outside appearance or how popular they are, or what they can do for me. It is very simple now...Do they have a good heart? Will they go above or beyond their own label to let others who may not be like them inside their world? Do they go out of their way to show kindness? Are they on the balcony cheering me on???
I believe life gives us so many opportunities to meet incredible people. Find the good ones and take time to get to know them.
There is a quote in the book, "Balcony People" and it says:" I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me. Why didn't you stay?" I never want to become that person and I pray my life will be filled with friends that will never leave me alone in my darkness.
I have always wondered...to be part of the Circle of Importance do you have to be important or just feel important?? Well, I guess that is another subject for another article someday:):):)
Oh, and by the way; God did answer our prayers we have found a new church in Austin that we call home. They truly care for everyone and we feel the love:):):)
