In a society that values youth and sometimes goes to the extreme to avoid signs of aging…plastic surgery and ‘appearance augmentation’ can sometimes have people looking, silly.
We should learn to cherish getting older and value the signs of aging.
We should learn to appreciate ourselves the way that God made us.
And yes, this is coming from a man who sometimes dyes his gray hair.š
This video above is a hilarious piece of wisdom as comedian Sinbad pokes fun at a common surgery many people have to so-called ‘look better’.
Proverbs 16:31 (ESV)
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
Someone did something to hurt you, but felt genuinely sorry. It may have been immediately or it may have been much later, but they did feel bad about what they did, said, didnāt do, or didnāt say. They came to you to offer a sincere apology butā¦
You werenāt ready to hear it, and you werenāt ready to accept it.
When they said, āIām sorry.ā Have you ever saidā¦
āI donāt want to hear it!ā
āI KNOW youāre SORRY!ā
āLeave me alone!ā
āIāll never forgive you!ā
Did you curse them out?
Did you get loud and try to publicly embarrass them?
Did you you just ignore them. Did you snap back, going through every detail of what happened? Did you throw everything they ever did to hurt you up in their face?
You were still hurt. You were still angry. You were still embarrassed. Your pride got in the way. You were still āin your feelingsā about what they did. When someone comes to you to apologize the shift in spiritual responsibility shifts from them to youā¦
Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
God expects us to always be ready to forgive just as He isā¦
Psalm 86:5 (NKJV)
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You
Sometimes we arenāt ready to let go of our anger, especially if the hurt that was done to us made us feel weak, vulnerable, stupid or naĆÆve. Retaining our anger and withholding forgiveness can actually make us feel stronger and in control.
Hereās the thing. We all know that apologizing is not an easy thing to do. We have to swallow our pride. We have to humble ourselves. We have to confront the person we have hurt. And, we know that we may sometimes meet resistance.
Think about Joseph in Genesis (Chapters 37-50). His brothers not only despised him, plotted to murder him and sold him into slavery. Later God elevated Joseph and placed him in position to save their lives. They were afraid of how Joseph would reactā¦but he was READY to forgiveā¦
Genesis 50:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Joseph said to them, āDo not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.ā And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph saw the big picture of how God not only allowed the hurt and betrayal, but worked it out for the good of everyoneā¦
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
So I encourage you todayā¦
Be easy to apologize to!
Be ready to forgive. I know itās not easy, but itās situations like this when Philippians 4:13 is most powerful in our lives.
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me
You could have a apology waiting you right now that’s being withheld simply because they are too ashamed or afraid to come to you.
Pray for a forgiving heart. Swallow you pride. Rise above your pain. Be easy to apologize to ā because we all know sometimes weāre the one seeking forgiveness.
BE BLESSTIFIED! 