Why is it so easy to see each others faults? Why are we so focused on blame and others faults instead of supporting each other and trying to help? All humans want the same thing; to be loved and accepted for who they are. We want to be enough! We want to enjoy life. This time of year emotions are running high. Everyone has their "IDEAL" scenario in their mind about what the ultimate celebration would look like. When things don't turn out the way we plan, and of course they can't always because that's not reality, then we start to have hurt feelings, be disappointed, and bad things start to happen.
When we focus on others we are focusing on things we CANNOT control but when we ask, How can I help? What can I do to make this situation better? What can I do different next time? What lesson am I to learn from this? Then we can feel less helpless, less disappointed and more a part of the solution instead of the problem.
This time of year is to celebrate Jesus' birthday. He was born and died so that our sins would be forgiven. We have been given grace. We have been forgiven for ALL our sins and loved beyond anything we can imagine in our earthly bodies and yet we hesitate to offer this grace to others. Have you ever done something and then immediately thought...why did I do that? Why did I say that? Or have you ever been really tired, annoyed, had a sick child, an argument with your spouse, etc. and then took it out on someone else because of your state of being at the time? Yes! It happens to all of us. We need to apologize immediately, ask for forgiveness and then do better next time. We all need to extend the same grace we've been given to others. I don't know about you but I have never PURPOSELY set out to hurt someone. I don't do things on purpose that I know would upset someone or make them mad. In our day to day encounters I find how people behave has less to do with me than it has to do with them. Their own mood, experiences, and issues are what guides their behaviors, not mine. Once we can realize that and disconnect from the emotions of the situation and just look at the behaviors the better able we become at dealing with whatever is happening in an objective, calm, understanding way. I'm not saying that what is being said or done is okay or even right just that perhaps the person saying it is having issues, that you may never even know what the issue is, and they may need you to extend grace at that time. I can already hear many of you saying oh that is unrealistic, ridiculous, impossible to do when someone is upset with you OR you don't know the situations I've been through with this person and what they've done to me and you're right I don't but I do know that NOTHING you do or say is going to change them so the only thing you have to work with is your part. How you react, respond, etc. is up to you. That is who you can control, PERIOD. If you think you control any other human being you are wrong. By extending grace to another who may not be in as good of a place as you at that moment you will actually be helping yourself. You will feel better about the situation, you will give them pause for thought because eventually they will realize what happened and probably feel bad and maybe even apologize but even if that doesn't happen you will feel good about yourself and know that you did what you could do to make the situation better. This is not a right or wrong issue. As Dr. Phil (I don't like quoting him but I think this cuts to the Nitty Gritty so to speak) says Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?
What we focus on and what we do on a daily basis is what we attract and what we experience. Do you want more drama, pain, heartache, etc.? Then keep trying to be right and win (by the way you will never truly win this way). Do you want to be a productive, positive force in your daily encounters that feels good about yourself and attracts more of the same? Then extend grace in every situation, and love freely, quickly apologize for anything you need to and forgive just as quickly as you would want to be forgiven. If you find yourself in more negative situations than positive ones then you need to look at what you are focusing on. Just for today try to look ONLY for the good in each situation. What am I suppose to learn? How can I make a positive impact on someone's life? As you have read this who's name has popped into your mind? Do you need to forgive them? Apologize to them? Ask forgiveness from them? Extend grace to them? Do it now!! You will be so glad that you did.
Don't be the one that holds back from offering grace becoming a bitter, angry person because the only one you will be hurting is yourself. I guarantee that person isn't sitting around wasting time thinking about how they impacted you. They are living their life most likely very happily so the only person you are hurting is you by holding on to the encounter. Let it go, forgive and live a life of freedom with grace that has already been paid for by Jesus just for you!!! Let your light shine, YOU ARE ENOUGH!!! God says so and he's already proven HIS love for you!
God Bless,
Nena
#getoffthescale #letitgo #forgiveness #weightloss #loseweight #grace #love
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