Food For Thought

Historical facts should be left for the history books

Has anybody ever got historical on you? I don't mean hysterical, I'm talking about historical... bringing up the past, throwing it in your face never letting you forget you've made some mistakes.

The fact of the matter is, we all make mistakes, blunders and faux pas throughout our lives. There is not one of us that is perfect or is ever going to be.

So let's put the shoe on the other foot... have you ever done this to somebody else? Something's happened in the past that you either experienced or were told about, and instead of letting it go... putting it in the past where it should wither and die, you decide to hold on to it as a weapon to use against that person.

You hold on to this for a time when you in your own glorious wisdom have decided they've done something to offend you, or deserve being hurt.

First of all, this doesn't speak very highly of your own character being vindictive in that fashion... and on top of that, how would it make you feel if somebody brought something up just to hurt you, make you feel guilty or upset you in some way?

If you want to destroy a friendship or relationship quickly... go ahead, have at it! Pack yourself an arsenal of historical facts, fictions or hearsay... ready to throw them at someone when you feel hurt or vulnerable.

Proverbs 28:13 says, "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."

If a particular person has "done" something, or perhaps "not" done something that upset you in their words or actions, you might want to take this into consideration... have they made a concerted effort to change, apologize or make up for the hurt they may have caused?

If not, no reason to throw anything in there face... this just makes you look small and petty. Instead, cut them out of your life... problem solved.

Now on the flip side, if the person is genuinely remorseful for what has happened or what has been said, and you see that the effort is being made not to repeat the same mistake... the last thing you want to do is start bringing up old hurts and things that you should have let go of a long time ago.

There's also one other thing to remember... holding on to these past hurts is only going to make you a spiteful and bitter person, locking yourself into a prison of your own making.

We all have our past and our baggage, every one of us, not one is immune to it. What we need to do is treat each other with love, caring and respect, forgiving one another, never bringing past mistakes back to mind just as God does with us.

You want a good solid relationship? Don't get hysterical and be less historical. Find the humor and joy in life. Live in and enjoy to the fullest this very moment you have right now because it's all you truly own... you are not promised you're next breath.