While cutting back some hedges I had a sudden, sharp, whack to my hand from a branch that had whipped towards me. Unfortunately, there was a thorn on said branch which banged into my hand. The remnants of a thorn were still stuck in my glove! so I got a good chance to examine the offending article – it looked complete, so I’m not overly worried right now about anything remaining in my finger.
However, having worked around wood for long enough, I also know not to do nothing!
It was a long time ago that the wife of a carpenter – who also happened to work in a pharmacy - gave me some great advice. As she pointed out herself, if her husband went to the doctor or hospital for every splinter he got, he’d never leave the place! Her advice – use some paste, usually used to treat warts, as it pulls any splinters that might be there, as well as any infection. And this is something I have done many times.
But, the whole process of feeling that pain, applying my ‘go to’ the paste under a plaster - and the solution I’ve frequently used - got me thinking about how we can allow hurt, bitterness and resentment to grow.
We justify our anger, or hatred, because what that person did to us was cruel and unfair, so we will not forgive them; “they don’t deserve it”.
We justify the hurt we caused another because they just needed some hard truths speaking to them. Why should I say sorry – “they started it”.
There is, of course, never any justification we can use for doing not forgiving people, or causing someone pain and not doing something about it. Jesus died for things He could not have done. He was definitely without fault – not something we can say of ourselves in this lifetime!
Get stuff sorted: it isn’t always possible, or even appropriate, to go and say sorry to the person we have wronged, but it is always possible say sorry to God.
Just a thought…
Andy B
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