Ever put on a fake smiley-face when that's the last way you feel?
Patti here. I was looking through old pictures of two of my granddaughters, and this one reminded me of myself several years ago. Our family was taught to be "private." We would explode before we'd admit that we were unhappy or troubled. That smiley-face was plastered on whether we felt it or not. We were supposed to be "strong", have it "all together," "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps." Yes sir, nothing was going to get us down.
God knows that people will hurt us, hate us, curse us and mistreat us at some point in life. After all, it was prophesied that "...difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of religion but denying its power." (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
So this is how I've learned to trade that fake-smiley face in for a real, from- the- heart- smile:
1. I take it to my Father in Heaven Who knows all about it anyway. I can pour my heart out, tell Him if I'm angry, complain to Him about so-in-so and it's no surprise to Him. He'll listen all day and then, if I'm quiet before Him, He'll speak to my heart words of comfort and guidance. (or sometimes a little chiding saying that I'm the one who should apologize.)
2. I find guidance in the Word of God. For instance: Luke 6:27-28 says: "...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Have you ever tried to stay angry with someone you pray for? Not possible for long.
3. The Word also tells us to "Bear one another's burdens." We need a good friend who will listen and tell us truth in love. Sometimes we just need help to see things from God's point of veiw, and a good Christian friend can help us do that. My good friend, Antoinette, told me one time - "Just forgive and go on." Wow. So simple and yet so effective. By forgiving we simply set the burden of the situation down and continue living. No grudges, no seething, no revenge, just forgive, and - - - let it go!
So, if we can't laugh and smile and bring joy to others because of a hurt inside, let's deal with it today. Enough with the red-wax smiles! Love, Patti
Classic Christianity
Patti here. I was looking through old pictures of two of my granddaughters, and this one reminded me of myself several years ago. Our family was taught to be "private." We would explode before we'd admit that we were unhappy or troubled. That smiley-face was plastered on whether we felt it or not. We were supposed to be "strong", have it "all together," "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps." Yes sir, nothing was going to get us down.
God knows that people will hurt us, hate us, curse us and mistreat us at some point in life. After all, it was prophesied that "...difficult times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of religion but denying its power." (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
So this is how I've learned to trade that fake-smiley face in for a real, from- the- heart- smile:
1. I take it to my Father in Heaven Who knows all about it anyway. I can pour my heart out, tell Him if I'm angry, complain to Him about so-in-so and it's no surprise to Him. He'll listen all day and then, if I'm quiet before Him, He'll speak to my heart words of comfort and guidance. (or sometimes a little chiding saying that I'm the one who should apologize.)
2. I find guidance in the Word of God. For instance: Luke 6:27-28 says: "...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Have you ever tried to stay angry with someone you pray for? Not possible for long.
3. The Word also tells us to "Bear one another's burdens." We need a good friend who will listen and tell us truth in love. Sometimes we just need help to see things from God's point of veiw, and a good Christian friend can help us do that. My good friend, Antoinette, told me one time - "Just forgive and go on." Wow. So simple and yet so effective. By forgiving we simply set the burden of the situation down and continue living. No grudges, no seething, no revenge, just forgive, and - - - let it go!
So, if we can't laugh and smile and bring joy to others because of a hurt inside, let's deal with it today. Enough with the red-wax smiles! Love, Patti
Classic Christianity
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