Letting go...

We all have them...at least I think we all do.   

Grudges.  

 Sometimes it is so hard to let go of the past.  Hard to forget something that happened so long ago or something that even happened yesterday.  These grudges hold us back from living today. 

Getting along. 

Loving each other now and not for the past wrongs. 

Sometimes we only focus on the wrongs of other people and not see how we too are in the wrong. 

We often don't accept the differences of individuals.  The differences in families.  The differences in opinions.  We think that our way of doing things should be the only way. 

The only RIGHT way. 

We are blinded by our own shortcomings...selfish in our own ways. 

The hurtful things that someone says about our kids, about us, about decisions we make for our family never seems to go away without these three simple words. 

"I am sorry" and move on. 

A sorry that may never come...keeping us to hold on to those grudges.  Families are torn apart.  Friendships are ruined.

But here is the thing...if we live our lives according to the scriptures....the sillyness of our own opinions is trumped by what it says.  There are quiet a few verses that warn us about grudges. 

~~Ephesians 4:31-32: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.~~

That help guide us in getting along with others. 

~~ Mark 11:25: And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.~~

We will not agree with silly things outside of what the scriptures say.  We will not agree with the everyday happenings of other peoples lives, but we need to let go of what we see as the shortfalls of others and focus how we can make our own lives better for Christ.

 ~~Romans 12:3: For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.~~