K
I feel your frustration Tintin. What joy I find by offering a sincere heart felt compliment. Especially if I can offer it in a situation where I feel safe that I can express my feelings in a conducive environment for sensitivity. Anytime though, you allow yourself to be exposed like that, opening your heart to another person, you take the chance of getting hurt. It matters not if it is family, friends, church members, fellow Christians, school chums, a member of the opposite sex, or even a stranger on the street, rejection of an honest heart felt offering of one self hurts.
Whenever I think of the human condition, and the trials and pains we go through, I try to think, "what is God trying to teach here?" It occurs to me that this is what Jesus must have felt when He came to earth as a man, showed us the example to live by, and then died for our sins. He was rejected and crucified by the very people He as trying to save. We get frustrated by people when they seek ulterior motives for our sincerity, but in hindsight, isn't that how the people around Jesus treated Him?
When most people wisely walk away from pain and distress, I find that I walk toward it. It's not that I'm a masochist, I just see it as an opportunity to grow closer to God, to somehow get a glimpse into Who He is. I believe that everything has a purpose, and the human condition must be experienced for us to truly see God.
Not to get too far off track, I also see God as the ultimate parent. We call Him our Heavenly Father, but what does that really mean? I've heard it said that our relationship with our earthly parents MIRRORS our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. In line with that, I think about how God cares and loves for me, and how I could apply that when raising my daughter. There are times when God has allowed me to face diversity so that I might grow. There are times when I struggle with that but have seen the benefit it provided my daughter. There are times when I have made mistakes and the last thing I needed to hear was "I told you so" or to be reminded how stupid I was. I just needed the loving grace of God, and He offered it freely. Is that not what our own children require of us? As God loves us, we must love our children, and each other.
i'm sure it is a struggle Tintin, but I'm sure that your kind, heart felt words have nourished more souls than have been rejected. We can't always see how God has utilized us throughout our daily life, but have assurance that He has.
Whenever I think of the human condition, and the trials and pains we go through, I try to think, "what is God trying to teach here?" It occurs to me that this is what Jesus must have felt when He came to earth as a man, showed us the example to live by, and then died for our sins. He was rejected and crucified by the very people He as trying to save. We get frustrated by people when they seek ulterior motives for our sincerity, but in hindsight, isn't that how the people around Jesus treated Him?
When most people wisely walk away from pain and distress, I find that I walk toward it. It's not that I'm a masochist, I just see it as an opportunity to grow closer to God, to somehow get a glimpse into Who He is. I believe that everything has a purpose, and the human condition must be experienced for us to truly see God.
Not to get too far off track, I also see God as the ultimate parent. We call Him our Heavenly Father, but what does that really mean? I've heard it said that our relationship with our earthly parents MIRRORS our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father. In line with that, I think about how God cares and loves for me, and how I could apply that when raising my daughter. There are times when God has allowed me to face diversity so that I might grow. There are times when I struggle with that but have seen the benefit it provided my daughter. There are times when I have made mistakes and the last thing I needed to hear was "I told you so" or to be reminded how stupid I was. I just needed the loving grace of God, and He offered it freely. Is that not what our own children require of us? As God loves us, we must love our children, and each other.
i'm sure it is a struggle Tintin, but I'm sure that your kind, heart felt words have nourished more souls than have been rejected. We can't always see how God has utilized us throughout our daily life, but have assurance that He has.
