What Happened to Them?
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” - Colossians 3:13-14
Yesterday, I asked you this question: What happened to you? I asked you to really dive deep on the inside. What happened to you? What happened in your past that is still affecting you to this day?
But today, I want you to consider something else. Actually, I want you to consider SOMEONE else. That person that frustrates you, that has angered you, that you just can’t seem to forgive, ask the same question: “What happened to THEM?”
You don’t actually have to ask them this question. But what I want you to do is have sympathy and understanding. In the same way you might struggle with past trauma in your own life, they might be dealing with something as well.
What they’re struggling with might be similar to your struggles or involve something completely different. However, it’s not about the specifics of their trauma. Rather, it has everything to do with the fact that something has equally affected who they are to this day, and you are better able to show grace when you understand that others too may allow their past to shape their current actions and thoughts.
Colossians 3:13-14 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Just as you want patience and forgiveness as you navigate your battles, do the same for others. Cut them some slack. You never know what they might be going through or dealing with. All you can do is control your part and forgive as Christ has forgiven you!
Yesterday, I asked you this question: What happened to you? I asked you to really dive deep on the inside. What happened to you? What happened in your past that is still affecting you to this day?
But today, I want you to consider something else. Actually, I want you to consider SOMEONE else. That person that frustrates you, that has angered you, that you just can’t seem to forgive, ask the same question: “What happened to THEM?”
You don’t actually have to ask them this question. But what I want you to do is have sympathy and understanding. In the same way you might struggle with past trauma in your own life, they might be dealing with something as well.
What they’re struggling with might be similar to your struggles or involve something completely different. However, it’s not about the specifics of their trauma. Rather, it has everything to do with the fact that something has equally affected who they are to this day, and you are better able to show grace when you understand that others too may allow their past to shape their current actions and thoughts.
Colossians 3:13-14 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Just as you want patience and forgiveness as you navigate your battles, do the same for others. Cut them some slack. You never know what they might be going through or dealing with. All you can do is control your part and forgive as Christ has forgiven you!
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