Tag: freedom

Stubborn and Unforgiving

Those two words describe people I know.

They also describe me.

I don’t like this part of myself. I want to be quick to forgive and to move on. And outwardly, I think I appear so.

But y’all, my heart is not always so. If truth be told, I wrestle with this more than I should. Definitely more than I need to.

I have been forgiven much. My Savior paid for my sins – past, present, and future – by dying on the cross for me. Why do I think I have the audacity to not forgive someone who hurt me? Someone who mistreated me or said something about me that wasn’t true?

This same Savior paid for everyone’s sins the same way – even the people who hurt me. I say everyone is redeemable. But do I believe it?

I have asked the Holy Spirit to point out things in my life that need to change, things that don’t align with who I am in Christ’s righteousness and things that are sinful and dishonoring to Him. Well, He’s done it. Again. I’ve gone around this mountain a time or three hundred.

Lord, thank you for being faithful and to keep pursuing me. I repent of not forgiving others and for being stubborn. Thank you for covering my sins and for pruning me once again. I forgive others. Please help me mean it in my heart and to walk it out in my speech and actions.

Alright – moving on!

Once again…

New year. New month. New week. New day.

We like new. Like a fresh sheet of paper wanting to be inscribed. Like warm baked bread inviting cozy conversations and soup. Like a new blanket of snow waiting for the first footprints of man or animal.

Wait…that last one. Snow….Let me rethink that.

We were promised snow. We got ice. I’m thankful for weather people but, they are not in charge.

Still, it was pretty to look at. Everything stopped. It was quiet and peaceful. This was day one.

After a few days with very cold temperatures (one day they matched temperatures in Alaska), it wasn’t so lovely anymore. People wanted out. Being still was for day one – not for day three.

It’s amazing how people (including myself) react when freedoms are suddenly limited. Anyone remember 2020?

One thing I noticed was the amount of complaining! The roads weren’t clear. Someone didn’t say if their road was open or closed. People driving around barricades. The city, the mayor, the state weren’t doing enough. Banks weren’t open. My dog won’t go outside to use the bathroom. (My Xena – the Wonder Dog – had no issue with this. Thankfully.)

I’m trying to approach each new day, new struggle, new unknown with the simple thought of, “What does this make possible?”

This ‘delay’ gave some the opportunity to reorganize their cabinets, read a book, clean their bathtub. Others got some fun sledding and ice skating experiences.

An ice storm makes me again appreciate the first responders (including wrecker drivers) who were so exhausted after day one but kept doing what they were asked to do. Local 4×4 owners coordinated getting people (including hospital workers) to work and then home. Area restaurants who were able to open served others with limited staff.

It gave me an opportunity to thank the cashier at Publix. She was one of two during an open few hours some were able to venture out. She was tired and in need of a break. I couldn’t give her that but I could give her a kind word and sincere appreciation. Some in the line didn’t speak to her. I guess they just wanted to get their groceries and get home. I understand that. Who know what they were dealing with?

But I can smile and appreciate and speak with kind words.

And it wasn’t just because my dog will use the bathroom outside.