Hello, Sweet Friends! I have some bible journaling to share today. I'm working in Colossians 3 and finally had the chance to use my gorgeous Scribble Flowers set from Sweet and Sassy Stamps for the perfect compliment to my reflections on forgiveness. Didn't someone once say that forgiveness is like a sweet, sweet flower?
I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness
lately because I made a gigantic mistake that ended up
bringing pain into the life of someone I love beyond measure. The long
and the short of it is--my mistake left my loved one
feeling....forgotten, unloved and looked over.
Gosh,
but those are feelings I know all too well. To realize I was the cause
of someone else feeling this way, really made me think.
1.
I did seek forgiveness from the one I had wronged. I was dismayed that
the response didn't match the depth of my sadness over the event. My
apology was not instantly accepted! I struggled to understand why the
truth of my heart wasn't enough to change things. I imagine this is
often how Jesus has felt in reverse. He is offering all that He is and,
yet, so many of His beloved ignore the gift, or fail to understand how
precious of a gift it is and simply turn it down remaining comfortable in their anger or grief.
2. I really had to give some
thought to all of the people and situations that had left me feeling
forgotten or unloved. I KNOW my recent situation and the truth is, my
mistake had nothing to do with the other person--who I love more than my
own life--it had everything to do with my own selfishness, my own
weakness. How often does our own brokenness affect others? It really
made me think with more compassion about those who I've felt had wronged
me. Again, in my selfishness, I've only considered my feelings.
Bearing with one another means, I must consider their story--I don't
have to know it to consider that it is powerful; to offer compassion and
understanding rather than jumping to the conclusion that "they're so
mean, they hurt me......me, me, me!!"
Colossians 3:12-13: "Put on then, as God's
chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has
forgiven you, so must you forgive." Oh, what a world it would be if
only we could master this!
I'll keep trying--will you join me?
Be Awesome, Jane
I got crafty with: Scribble Flowers and Words of Life, Collection 2
Oh, and PS--don't forget about the matching Scribble Flower dies:
I couldn't have needed this message more Jane - I do so, so miss you on the TJ team as part of our group. Your work is so inspiring and I thank you for sharing. I've done the same thing in my life and I am struggling with the results. None of us are we are perfect and when we hurt those we care about we pay the consequences. But there is hope. I just was art journaling the message "Beautiful Girl, Keep the wisdom let the rest go. How ironic. Hope you are well - take care.
ReplyDeleteBeyond gorgeous...LOVE all of your creations. What a fun, inspirational blog you have!
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