Posted by
str8_talk on Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:50:22 PM
I have been through a great deal in my life, but I know I'm not alone. I have friends and I have God. I've dealt with a great deal of hatefulness and physical pain over the years. I'm not looking for sympathy, because I'm an optimist and I've learned to look forward, not back. I don't pretend to be perfect by any means, but I do my best not to talk about people or condemn them. Jesus said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone."
I don't believe what I hear about someone unless I go to the person who is being talked about and ask, but usually if the person is not there, I stop the conversation and say: "If they were standing right here, would you say what you're saying?" This usually stops any gossip. I had a friend who was a constant gossip. Every time we were together, alone or with a group of other women, there was gossip. One day this 'friend' asked me if I was going to attend the monthly 'ladies' dinner. I asked her "Do you ever wonder when you don't attend if they talk about you?" She looked at me quizzically. I said "The reason I ask, is because I've observed that the topic of conversation is always focused on the person who is NOT in attendance. It goes something like 'did you hear what ___ did?' or 'do you know the latest on ___?'" I told her "I'm not without fault myself, but one thing I will not tolerate in a friend is gossip." I went on to say that I wasn't telling her to disassociate with the group, she had to be her own moral compass with God's guidance, but I couldn't be part of that group anymore. I eventually ended our friendship because she repeated things I told her in confidence and to me that is not friendship.
Before I did, I shared what the Bible says about gossip. God considers gossip to be so serious that He included it to be avoided in one of the Ten Commandments. "Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20) When you repeat something you heard from someone else, or share a story and you were not an eyewitness to the details, or even share information about another person that can only bring them hurt or harm and not good, then you are bearing false witness against them. The second commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself." I love myself enough that I wouldn't tell evil things or go about badmouthing myself to others. I believe in being honest and forthright, when or IF I wrong someone, I do my best to apologize immediately and hopefully they accept my apology. I try not to hurt anyone in the first place, then I don't have to apologize.
Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he
sins AGAINST you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
Mark 11:25-26 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your
Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins.
Life is short, we should laugh when we can, and accept others with their faults as much as possible. Of course, this is as long as the person isn't being abusive to you. Accept when others correct their mistakes and move on. We need to be grateful for what he have, relish the people in our life who are good to us and return the favor. Never forget to tell someone how much we appreciate them or how something they said meant to us. When I leave this world I hope I am remembered as a person who was happy, a good parent, an optimist, someone who made a difference, and also, someone who deeply cares for others, because I do. I hope I never leave with having offended someone.
Romans 12:17-18 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible,
as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
II Timothy 4:16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
I hope that I don't have something to feel sorry for, I would hope that I don't offend people! It is not my intention. I hope that I live each day to the fullest and do my best to make those around me feel comfortable and peaceful. I've always been considered an optimist by those who truly know me. I have made many friends in my life and I have found that wisdom and faith comes in ALL packages. I have also found that hypocrites come in all packages as well. They are the wolves dressed in sheep's clothing sometimes and other times they are very apparent. For those who know the struggles I've faced and have offered their encouragement, I thank you for your support. I'm not going into my life details, those are only shared with my closest friends. Thank you when you have sent me 'words of encouragement' through my ongoing trials. You know who you are and you are a treasure to me; you are more precious than all the gold and silver this world has to offer. It means so much to get online and see a message of encouragement. For those who have left bitter remarks, I will pray that God will change your heart, because I don't harbor ill-will against others and I'm not your judge or jury.
Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no
attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the
time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye.
If I've ever failed to Thank any of you, I am thanking you now, because another way I want to be remembered is - Grateful!
~ Kimberly MD©