There she is. She’s just down the aisle.
There’s that familiar feeling, too…
Did she see me?
I hope not.
I really don’t want to talk to her today… or ever.
If you only knew the things she’s said about me…and the children! You’d understand why I can’t stand her. Wouldn’t you?
Just thinking about her… I already feel…
Wrong Aisle?
Not the aisle you expected?
Even if you were thinking of a different aisle, that’s a situation you’ve probably experienced. You turned a corner and found yourself in front of her or him.
How did you react?
Telling Response?
How do you feel when you turn a corner to come face to face with some one who has done you wrong?
Anxious?
Angry?
Vengeful?
Any negative response indicates that you have work to do… IF you want to live in healthier and happier patterns.
First Steps
How badly do you want to walk down that aisle and be cheerful and friendly… just because you know it will drive her nuts?
Revenge… even polite revenge… is still revenge.
Killing her with kindness is still a psychological assault.
What kind of healthy first step is that?
Healthy first steps aren’t about her.
Healthy first steps are about you.
A Healthy Response
A healthy response begins long before you turn the corner and run into her.
A healthy response frees you from the clutches of your past.
A healthy response starts a journey out of slavery to the lingering effects of
- hurtful situations
- harmful people, and
- negative emotions.
It’s a journey toward freedom, hope and new beginnings. A major step on the way is forgiving the person at the other end of the aisle.
7 Reasons to Forgive
Forgiveness is hard. It seems…wasted.
It’s wasted on people who don’t reciprocate, don’t deserve it and who won’t care.
Forgiveness isn’t about them. Really. It has very little to do with the other person.
Forgiveness is about your health.
Why shouldn’t you make the effort?
- Forgiving dilutes your anger.
- Forgiving reclaims your responsibility for your emotions.
- Forgiving reclaims your control of your actions.
- Forgiving rebuilds your character.
- Forgiving renews your ability to receive forgiveness.
- Forgiving renews your connection with others.
- Forgiving restores your connection with God.
Walk that Aisle!
The next time you get that familiar feeling, be certain that she saw you. Make sure that she knows you have forgiven her. Forgiving isn’t about letting her get away with harmful words or actions. Forgiving is about ridding yourself of an infection of the soul.
Walk down that aisle! Start forgiving and start healing. Each forgiving step is a new beginning.
Talk Back!
Tell me about your “wrong aisle” experience?
How have you noticed a lack of forgiveness affecting you?
When you did finally forgive, what was the result?
Blessings,
/jmt
___________
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
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I hope you enjoy your time on the site and that something in these pages encourages your journey along the Way of Jesus. All thoughts here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts of others or of organizations with which I am affiliated. 
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