Writing Castoffs

I'm writing today, but had to cut this out of the book because it just didn't fit. Yet, I liked the premise so much that I couldn't stand to leave it on the cutting room floor. So I added a bit to the thought and posted it here for you to ponder.

Ponder away.

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Why did God give us the gift of forgiveness?

Without consulting my Bible for a verse, and basically throwing an idea to the wind, I think He knew we were going to stray and make big mistakes and feel incredibly guilty and He wanted to extend grace.

Forgiveness allows us to completely blow it, fall flat on our faces, yet get a chance to try again.

And the biggest beauty of the gift? There is no end to forgiveness. It is infinite. Isn’t that astounding?

Psalm 103:12 tells us “As far as east is from west— that’s how far God has removed our sin from us.”

When we repent, we are forgiven, period. The memory of our sin? Gone from God’s mind.

God grants us a pardon, if we ask and are truly repentant. In return, He asks that we extend the same grace to others.

In fact, we are called to forgive as we are forgiven in the great Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Yet, how many people do you know who won’t forgive others?

How many people do you know who won’t forgive themselves?

How many people do you know who won’t forgive GOD?

What is holding us back? Pride, jealously, bitterness? Anger, hurt, idolatry?

Why do we fail to understand that these things are not Christlike? Why do we fail to see that handing these things back to the world and embracing forgiveness is a path to peace?

Oh, that today would be the day we would embrace His gifts and live the extravagant life He has planned for each of us!

Tummy Aches

Overheard at the dinner table, after The Babe presented a wicked-bad pain in the lower quadrant of his abdomen (please, Lord, not appendicitis....)

Nickels: "I'm sure it's just a gas bubble."
Hooman: "Yeah. They feel really bad."
The Babe, choking back tears that are not cooperating but streaming down his face: "What is an ass bubble."

The entire table explodes in laughter, including both me and Mike.

I shoot the hubster a "REALLY?" look when I think his laugh has lingered a bit too long, followed closely by a correction aimed at The Babe "GAS bubble, baby."

The table, except me, is still finding this a little too funny, with The Babe looking around, clearly amused by himself, but questioning what he said to become the center of attention.

I explained, as gently as I could without using THE word again: "You compared your tummy bubble to a donkey."

That settled it. We all stopped laughing and dinner progressed forward.

But, that bubble? Still holding on at bedtime, just like a stubborn old mule.

Come to think of it, I think The Babe DID use the right terminology.....

Choices

In every single thing you do in life, you are making a choice.

If you choose hate, you forgo love.
If you choose sorrow, you forgo joy.
If you choose war, your forgo peace.
If you choose impatience, you forgo patience.
If you choose ill-will, you forgo kindness.
If you choose evil, you forgo goodness.
If you choose self-indulgence, you forgo self-control.
If you choose disloyalty, you forgo faithfulness.
If you choose harshness, you forgo gentleness.

Seems like a lot of mess, doesn't it?

But, just turn those traits around and see what you get.

If you choose love, you forgo hate.
If you choose joy, you forgo sorrow.
If you choose peace, your forgo war.
If you choose patience, you forgo impatience.
If you choose kindness, you forgo ill-will.
If you choose goodness, you forgo evil.
If you choose self-control, you forgo self-indulgence.
If you choose faithfulness, you forgo disloyalty.
If you choose gentleness, you forgo harshness.

Choose wisely.