"God commended His love toward you in this
way; when you were yet a sinner Christ died for you." Romans 5:8
Sunday I talked about some of the issues involved with getting
from first base into scoring position. The one that seemed to connect well was
the point about keeping short accounts. The advice was threefold: forgive what
you can't fix, bitterness is unnecessary baggage and when you get wronged get
right.
During that part of the message I shared some painful childhood
experiences I suffered because of my absent father who was unable to keep his
word and find time for me. Even though I hesitate to share painful things out
of my past, I need to do that so you are able to know me and my struggles.
Some of the things I shared Sunday Barbara hadn't
even heard before, so we were talking after church and it occurred to me I
should share how I got through that without any bitterness. Perhaps it will be
helpful for you to know.
The most important thing I was able to do was
accept him for he was rather than what I wanted him to be. He was a hurting
person who hurt others because of his unresolved pain. His attempts to dull the
spiritual and emotional pain that plagued his life was to drink. Since I lived
with an alcoholic step-father I knew first-hand how it affects people. That
gave me insights into some of his thinking and behavior.
Because, by the grace of God, I was able to
accept him as he was and not expect him to be what I wanted him to be I was
able to see him more objectively and not project his problems on myself.
As someone who has closely with people over many
years I have observed how common it is for people to struggle at this point.
While it is hard to let go of your hopes and expectations for a person you
love, real love, healthy love, is able to free the person from those
expectations and come to an acceptance of the person as they are and for who
they are.
When I finally came to that point of acceptance,
it was hard to admit that I was never going to enjoy the blessing of an earthly
father. Facing that painful fact led me to open my life more completely to my
Heavenly Father.
That was the best decision I ever could have
made! My Heavenly Father healed my heart and my spirit and has NEVER
disappointed me!
Is there someone who continually disappoints
you?
Is there a hurting person in your life who
persists in causing you pain?
If you are not careful, the hurt they are causing
you will cause you to hurt others.
Perhaps it is time to ask God to give you grace
to accept this person for who he is, what he is, and stop expecting him to be
other than what you accept him to be. This acceptance will actually treat the
pain and open your heart to love that person in a healthy satisfying way.
This is how God loves! He saw you in your sin and
knew exactly what sort of hurtful and hurting person you were. Seeing you at
your worst, he accepted you and counted you worthy of salvation through His
Son.
If God can love you like that can't he help you
love someone else in that same way?
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