I have never been one to let people “run over” me. Even back in high school, when I was the target of racial discrimination, I fought. I talked to my Dad, who always supported me, went with my argument to the administration building, and won. I was being held back from an advanced history class when all of my classes were advanced. I’ll tell you this, I never worked harder in my life. I was bound and determined to make A’s in that class, and I did.
When there is an injustice, I want to make it right, especially when my children are the victims. When I hear of bleeding disorder patients who are not given a voice in the matters of their children’s educations and health care, I am the first to offer my help, and when I am the victim of wrongdoings, I never hesitate to speak up.
But sometimes the activist in us has to weigh our options. Do we speak up and risk alienating ourselves from others? Do we simply sit back and let others who have treated us badly get away their inappropriate behavior? And when we are the victim of a tense situation, having to watch those who behaved badly act as if nothing is wrong, all the while knowing they are continuing to spread gossip that is filled with lies, we have to let it go.
I don’t want to let it go! I want to scream and get justice! I want those who are wrong to pay for what they have done! But the truth is that Christ tells us to forgive.
“If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
I wish it was that easy…to forgive. But it is something we have to work at every single day. I think that when we get farther away from a hurtful situation that sometimes forgiveness gets easier, but I know that I also hang on to some things that have hurt me deeply many, many years ago, that are still impacting my life. I desperately want to forgive, because the truth is this, the people who wronged us are not losing sleep over what they did, we are. I am going to continue working towards forgiveness to the ones who have hurt me. It will definitely take time, but knowing that I am loved by the One who created the Universe, the God who knows every hair on my head and every thought before it comes to my mind, is enough for me.
Today I Am Thankful For:
- winter finally arriving
- speaking engagements
- A fantastic, new pillow
- cherry tomatoes
- A dinner invitation
