GETTING OVER IT

There is a story of General Robert E. Lee going to a southern state after the Civil War. A lady came out of her house and showed him a mangled tree in her yard. "The Yankees did this with their constant shelling. They thought nothing of my safety or my property."  On and on, she shared her bitterness about the Yankees disfiguring her once beautiful tree. She would not stop, and after what seemed a very long time, she asked General Lee what he thought about it.

Lee said something like, "Lady, just chop down that tree and forget about it."

Do you know someone who clings to the negative things in their past?  They won't let go of those things. There are things folks allow to linger in their minds from childhood that affect how they feel about things as an adult.  Some experiences actually play a part in destroying goals they have or decisions they make.  They're so embittered, they judge all people by the stick of the "Yankees" who shot up their tree.  They cannot see past that experience.  They blame others for all of their problems and find little good in their world.

Today we can do the same thing.  We can take our problems, the rejection, the assaults, the criticism, and think that tomorrow will only be more of the same.  We can think that the world is no different anywhere we go.  We can think that life will only get harder and no matter how much we've endured, the tree in our yard will always be mangled and remind us of the hatred and disregard others had for us.  There are things in our lives we should forget about.  We should get over it, and move on.  It's over.  That may sound harsh. 

And many people are struggling in the freshness of pain.  They do not need to hear it quite this way.  There were times in my life that people told me to "grow up", to "get over it", to "forget about it", and I felt the sting of those words as clearly as I felt the pain I felt from the situation.  I've learned to show more compassion.  I usually say, let go and let God heal you.  Let go and let God take you further.  Let go and let God keep you and hold you in the midst of the storm; let Him lead you into the sunlight.

I have a little epithet by my bathroom mirror:  "Though childhood may have been rough, it is over."  I placed it there to remind me that many things from my childhood could not be changed--that when I was tempted to throw myself a pity-party over the unfairness of life, I was to remember, today is a new day.  Today is my opportunity to right wrongs in the world, to live above the unkindness of my past, and to love where I had been neglected or rejected.  Today is the day that the Lord has made; I will forgive and let God handle yesterday.  I will love and let God be my refuge and strength. 

Do you know someone going through a difficult time?  Someone who is being unfairly attacked or maligned?  Listen to their heartache.  Help them cut down their tree.  But do it slowly, one whack at a time.  Pray with them and love them through it.  selahV

Another word of encouragement you can find here at Devotional Christian

WHY?  at dailyIMPACT

WITHOUT REVENGE  at dailyIMPACT

When Fears Come Knocking, Have Faith in God

Comments

[Lisa]

Listening is what I need to work on. Too often I begin trying to help, when I really just need to listen. Reminds me of the verse that says we are to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger".
Blessings ~ Lisa

[bill (cycleguy)]

I have seen countless Christ-followers hang on to things as though they can change it all just by sheer willpower. I have seen them hang on and die inside. I am now facing some of this in my own life right now and must choose to let it go and let others take care of things. Good post m'lady.

[David R. Brumbelow]

Great post. Something we all need to learn. And then to be reminded of on a regular basis.
David R. Brumbelow

[selahV]

Lisa, I know. Listening and listening and listening is something I have to literally tell myself when dealing with another who comes to me with a problem. I find it's better to tell them and myself, I wish I could help in some other way, but most people want you to listen far more than they want advice.
I've realized I can be too quick to suggest remedy, when the remedy was simply to let them talk. Thanks for logging on. selahV

[selahV]

Bill, thanks for the validation, my friend. You are so right about willpower. People can actually will themselves into higher blood pressure and heart attacks by holding on to anger and bitterness. Isn't there a bible verse about that. Bitterness that rots the bones? (Where is Grosey, when I need him? lol.)

There have been times when I've let things go (or thought I have), and then the devil rears his ugly head and tries to get me to think ill of someone again. It's these times I have to pray and let go again, or remind myself that I've already let it go.

Isn't it amazing that our Father can really let things go and remember it no more? Seems like it is the least I can do for Him. selahV
selahV

[selahV]

Thanks David. Tell ya what, I'll just put this post in an email and schedule it to be sent to you every month. LOL. Is that too "regular"? Seriously, I have to agree. God's constantly telling me, "Hey, girl! You forgave that, remember?" And then I say, "Oh, yeah. Sorry."

He is so merciful. His grace is so amazing. We are so blessed. selahV