Hey Everyone,
I've thought about this a lot lately, and was wondering how the rest of you feel.
I don't really know how to word it, so I hope what I'm trying to say won't be misread. I am NOT trying to make excuses for sin or bad choices.
But at the same time, have you ever considered, if you could erase every mistake from your life, and if you could have done everything perfectly or with a nearly clean record, who would you now be?
I'd like to say I wish I could go back and change some mistakes in my life, but it's because of those mistakes that:
1. I can relate, in a small way, to the struggle single parents go through every day.
2. I can lend a sympathetic ear and comfort to people dealing with separations and divorces (I could not have done this before my own divorce--I was one of the people who said, "People give up too easy! It should be illegal to divorce because people don't try!" without the slightest hint of compassion or grace).
3. I can talk to people who have been through very extreme situations in life.
4. I can pray for people who battle co-dependency, because I've dealt with it firsthand.
When writing this, I was also thinking of an older relative whom I love very much but has lived about as "clean" of a life as one can have. This person grew up a Christian, married their childhood love, and was never into the party scene. They've lived their life in a quiet service to their family and God, which I admire greatly.
But, I was also struck at how ironic it was when this person felt badly about having to change hairstylists, not wanting the person's feelings to be hurt. The stylist said in reply, "Oh, it's no problem--it's just like a breakup, and everyone lives through breakups, you know?"
The thing is, this person could not relate at all (and told me so), because they have never been through a breakup.
Which left me feeling a bit torn. Should I be glad for all the mishaps in my life, some of them self-routed? I'm at a place where I fight with myself constantly because part of me is the type who does not learn unless there is an experience. I recently read an interview with the pop singer Rihanna, and she said it perfectly: "A child doesn't believe an oven is hot unless she touches it herself."
I know obedience to God should be our number one priority... and I know we, as Christians, should always strive to live Godly lives.
But I'm not yet sure how to resolve the part of myself that, in some ways, is glad for the things I've been through, even the wrong things, because without knowing firsthand, how could I ever know what it was like for someone else? And yet... That was the entire foundation of what brought sin into the world: God said, "Don't go there--I know better, and I'm asking you not to go there," and yet Adam and Eve just had to find out the oven was hot for themselves.
I'd love to hear what everyone else has to say, because it will help clarify some serious debates I've been having with myself, and with my faith.
I've thought about this a lot lately, and was wondering how the rest of you feel.
I don't really know how to word it, so I hope what I'm trying to say won't be misread. I am NOT trying to make excuses for sin or bad choices.
But at the same time, have you ever considered, if you could erase every mistake from your life, and if you could have done everything perfectly or with a nearly clean record, who would you now be?
I'd like to say I wish I could go back and change some mistakes in my life, but it's because of those mistakes that:
1. I can relate, in a small way, to the struggle single parents go through every day.
2. I can lend a sympathetic ear and comfort to people dealing with separations and divorces (I could not have done this before my own divorce--I was one of the people who said, "People give up too easy! It should be illegal to divorce because people don't try!" without the slightest hint of compassion or grace).
3. I can talk to people who have been through very extreme situations in life.
4. I can pray for people who battle co-dependency, because I've dealt with it firsthand.
When writing this, I was also thinking of an older relative whom I love very much but has lived about as "clean" of a life as one can have. This person grew up a Christian, married their childhood love, and was never into the party scene. They've lived their life in a quiet service to their family and God, which I admire greatly.
But, I was also struck at how ironic it was when this person felt badly about having to change hairstylists, not wanting the person's feelings to be hurt. The stylist said in reply, "Oh, it's no problem--it's just like a breakup, and everyone lives through breakups, you know?"
The thing is, this person could not relate at all (and told me so), because they have never been through a breakup.
Which left me feeling a bit torn. Should I be glad for all the mishaps in my life, some of them self-routed? I'm at a place where I fight with myself constantly because part of me is the type who does not learn unless there is an experience. I recently read an interview with the pop singer Rihanna, and she said it perfectly: "A child doesn't believe an oven is hot unless she touches it herself."
I know obedience to God should be our number one priority... and I know we, as Christians, should always strive to live Godly lives.
But I'm not yet sure how to resolve the part of myself that, in some ways, is glad for the things I've been through, even the wrong things, because without knowing firsthand, how could I ever know what it was like for someone else? And yet... That was the entire foundation of what brought sin into the world: God said, "Don't go there--I know better, and I'm asking you not to go there," and yet Adam and Eve just had to find out the oven was hot for themselves.
I'd love to hear what everyone else has to say, because it will help clarify some serious debates I've been having with myself, and with my faith.
Good thread starter, even Though I feel that I didn't answer it as intended.
