Got up at 4 yesterday. Said a lot of stupid things at dinner with relatives. Confessed sin and prayed for ALL of you and many of YOUR relatives until 3 this morning. Am only semi-alive at 7:30 for the farmer’s market chore. I need a guard on my tongue, please!
Who among us hasn’t said stupid things. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up.
I regretted something I said to someone who had been severely disfigured in a fire. It gnawed at me for about 15 years. Perhaps longer. I finally got the courage to say something to him and apologize for my insensitive remark. He laughed. He DIDN’T remember me saying it!
Kim, I was on other side of that. A old school mate friended me on FaceBook, then apologized for something he said to me in Mrs. soandso’s class. I had to look up Mrs. soandso to know what grade we were in when it happen. I still don’t remember it. I hope the poor guy hasn’t gotten the wrong person and there is someone out there he really does need to apologize to.
Prayers for families that aren’t perfect. A co-worker today, who recently lost her sister, was telling me about how hard it’s been with the mom (who’s very alienated from the family, I’ve heard stories from her about this in the past) and just the ongoing stress and problems with too much drama, especially now with a memorial to plan for the sister. It’s a mess and she’s shouldering a lot. 😦
We tend to forget when our own lives are relatively settled, but for many people the holidays can bring out all of those stressors and just wind up being very hard & painful to get through. 😦
I also think the co-worker (S) was trying to probe the faith issue a bit (she was raised Catholic), talking about what good is it if you’re the one who tries to do the right and responsible things only to not be ‘rewarded,’ but to have to pull such a heavy load year after year, while those causing the problems are unbothered (seemingly) by their own actions and seem ‘happier.’ What, do we have to wait to get our reward after we die, she asked.
A lot of spoken and unspoken things there, too much for our casual workday conversation today unfortunately. But ‘Why do the wicked prosper?’ from Ps. 73 came to my mind — not a new question, but one that’s common to man, which is what makes the Bible so authentic.
Anyway, I sense she’s struggling right now, trying to do the right thing by everyone. Pray that tomorrow goes as smoothly as possible for her.
And how many other families are going through their own difficulties tomorrow?
Along those lines, since Donna brought it up, Emily & Chrissy get along on the surface, & they do love each other, but they are not close. They are so very different, & each one has serious complaints (spoken to me, not to the sister) about each other. I was just praying a little while ago that, as Chrissy will be here for a couple days, God would begin to knit them together in sisterly love, that He would help each of them to see each other with more grace.
As for me, this time of year is a huge reminder that my brother’s family has cut off relationship with us (& he is my only sibling). It is painful, although I try not to dwell on it.
Lee had predicted, while Mom was dying, that after she passed (which she did in June, 2010, & Dad had died in late 2004), C & B would eventually stop having Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve with us. (Those were about the only times during the year we would see them, although they live only two or three miles away.) Our family Christmas Eve celebration had been a highlight of my year for many years, & I miss it.
But I know there are others on this blog with worse family problems than mine. I am so very grateful for my husband, daughters, & adorable little grandson.
That reminds me. Emily & I were discussing making a couple new traditions in our family for Forrest, as well as the rest of us. I told her about how those Christmas Eves in years past had been one of the highlights of my year. She sweetly said that we would make new traditions together that can be the new highlight of my year. 🙂
Donna – What are you going to be doing tomorrow? Will you be with family or friends? Whatever you do, may God bless your day with peace & joy & good food.
Wandering Views 
Got up at 4 yesterday. Said a lot of stupid things at dinner with relatives. Confessed sin and prayed for ALL of you and many of YOUR relatives until 3 this morning. Am only semi-alive at 7:30 for the farmer’s market chore. I need a guard on my tongue, please!
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Amen.
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Michelle – Can you apologize for those “stupid things” you said? Or would that make it worse? Usually, it seems a sincere apology goes a long way.
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Who among us hasn’t said stupid things. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up.
I regretted something I said to someone who had been severely disfigured in a fire. It gnawed at me for about 15 years. Perhaps longer. I finally got the courage to say something to him and apologize for my insensitive remark. He laughed. He DIDN’T remember me saying it!
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If it comes up somehow, apologize.
If it doesn’t come up, leave it alone.
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Kim, I was on other side of that. A old school mate friended me on FaceBook, then apologized for something he said to me in Mrs. soandso’s class. I had to look up Mrs. soandso to know what grade we were in when it happen. I still don’t remember it. I hope the poor guy hasn’t gotten the wrong person and there is someone out there he really does need to apologize to.
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There are times to apologize, & times to leave it alone. The Holy Spirit will lead us in the right way when we ask for guidance.
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But Michelle already knows that, of course. 🙂
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Prayers for families that aren’t perfect. A co-worker today, who recently lost her sister, was telling me about how hard it’s been with the mom (who’s very alienated from the family, I’ve heard stories from her about this in the past) and just the ongoing stress and problems with too much drama, especially now with a memorial to plan for the sister. It’s a mess and she’s shouldering a lot. 😦
We tend to forget when our own lives are relatively settled, but for many people the holidays can bring out all of those stressors and just wind up being very hard & painful to get through. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also think the co-worker (S) was trying to probe the faith issue a bit (she was raised Catholic), talking about what good is it if you’re the one who tries to do the right and responsible things only to not be ‘rewarded,’ but to have to pull such a heavy load year after year, while those causing the problems are unbothered (seemingly) by their own actions and seem ‘happier.’ What, do we have to wait to get our reward after we die, she asked.
A lot of spoken and unspoken things there, too much for our casual workday conversation today unfortunately. But ‘Why do the wicked prosper?’ from Ps. 73 came to my mind — not a new question, but one that’s common to man, which is what makes the Bible so authentic.
Anyway, I sense she’s struggling right now, trying to do the right thing by everyone. Pray that tomorrow goes as smoothly as possible for her.
And how many other families are going through their own difficulties tomorrow?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Along those lines, since Donna brought it up, Emily & Chrissy get along on the surface, & they do love each other, but they are not close. They are so very different, & each one has serious complaints (spoken to me, not to the sister) about each other. I was just praying a little while ago that, as Chrissy will be here for a couple days, God would begin to knit them together in sisterly love, that He would help each of them to see each other with more grace.
As for me, this time of year is a huge reminder that my brother’s family has cut off relationship with us (& he is my only sibling). It is painful, although I try not to dwell on it.
Lee had predicted, while Mom was dying, that after she passed (which she did in June, 2010, & Dad had died in late 2004), C & B would eventually stop having Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve with us. (Those were about the only times during the year we would see them, although they live only two or three miles away.) Our family Christmas Eve celebration had been a highlight of my year for many years, & I miss it.
But I know there are others on this blog with worse family problems than mine. I am so very grateful for my husband, daughters, & adorable little grandson.
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That reminds me. Emily & I were discussing making a couple new traditions in our family for Forrest, as well as the rest of us. I told her about how those Christmas Eves in years past had been one of the highlights of my year. She sweetly said that we would make new traditions together that can be the new highlight of my year. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Donna – What are you going to be doing tomorrow? Will you be with family or friends? Whatever you do, may God bless your day with peace & joy & good food.
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