Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones

It's all about sensitivity. Remember the old phrase we used when we were kids: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." But in fact names DO hurt us, and sometimes much more than any broken bone ever could. You see, broken bones will mend with time, but words spoken in anger or frustration sometimes leave scars that never heal. Oh we may say we are OK, or all is forgiven, but many times those scars run very deep and often rise to the surface in times of yes - anger or frustration.

And, of course, leave it to us human beings to be sensitive to all of the things that don't matter for eternity. Yes, the unkind words hurt, the thoughtless comments wound, and we agonize over those things. But what about our sensitivity to our Heavenly Father? How careful are we that our thoughts, words, and actions don't wound and grieve our God, who continues to forgive - and forget - time after time. We allow ourselves to hold on to those old feelings and nurture and feed them until we truly have made mountains out of molehills. "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12).

Think about it - as far as the east is from the west. A space that cannot be measured, a space that is limitless - and that is how far our sins are taken away from us. Talk about "out of sight, out of mind." When God looks at our sins, all He sees is the blood of His beloved Son covering every part of them. Nothing is left to stick out and
mar the view of our sinlessness before our God.

So the next time you are tempted to give in to the sensitivity and hurt feelings game, think about what God has forgiven you. How He looks at you and only sees you as spotless under Christ's blood. That should cause us to forgive and not dwell on the perceived wrongs that have been done to us and rejoice that because of Jesus' sacrifice all is truly and forever forgiven.

Lynn R.