Ouch, ouch, Brad!

And "Amen"!


--
Carol



----- Original Message -----
From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 5:16 PM
Subject: Re: When Push Comes To Shove


> What? You are human? I thought when you became Christian you were suppose
> to be holy and all that? I'm shocked!! Hehehehehhehe. Let me count the
ways
> I've failed in this regard with my family, and I guarantee you it will be
> longer than a few pages. Everything from crushing a delicate fragile
> emotion of a loved one to whipping a kids bike from one wall to another
> across the garage in a fit of fury. Thankfully some of those childish
> tantrums have been removed from me... at least I believe and hope they
are.
> And what about stomping out vain imaginations? My boots are red from
> stomping out fits of anger, green with fits of envy, and blue from fits of
> self pity. And the rest of unholy images that are whipped up in the mind
> that I can't associate a color to right now. But although we do have
these,
> it is grace and mercy that allow us to not only be forgiven, but help us
> come back to our place in God. Hopefully before further damage is done.
> Family members are great for pushing our buttons aren't they? They are the
> ones who know us best and know just where to target what button at what
> time for their own designs, and we, shamefully are no different at times.
> But we learn and grow and hopefully it takes more effort by others to get
> that rise out of us that the last time, and we are quicker to realize
where
> the accusations are coming from and for what purpose. Wasn't it Jesus who
> said... Forgive them Father for they know not what they do?" But they do
> know you say. They do know exactly what they are doing by saying these
> accusations. Yes they do but blinded by the need for the fulfilling of
self
> designs, justification of their own behaviors, make you smaller so they
> appear  taller. There are a myriad of reasons people do such to loved ones
> because they feel that their loved ones will forgive them, they feel the
> love goes so deep that they can abuse it and get away with it for their
own
> desires and agenda. After all, isn't this exactly what we do to God?
>
> Ouch!
>
> Brad
>