All in good humor here, but when it comes to other people the bad news is, it’s not all about you, all of the time. Conversely however, the good news is also, it’s not all about you, all of the time.
That is a bit of a paradox, confusing for the brain, and I am about to make it even worse. We people need to take it right to Jesus and make it, all about us, all of the time. Where should you take ALL of your worries, concerns, fears, traumas, and assorted sins? Right to Jesus. I’m telling you, 90% of our interpersonal conflicts, spats, and assorted tantrums could be avoided by not expecting other people to read our minds and meet our needs and expectations. In fact, for our own peace and well being, it’s best to expect almost nothing from others. Newsflash, it’s really not their job to take care of us in that manner.
In fact, often what we are doing is putting other people in the place of Jesus. He is a good, good Father. He sticks closer than a brother. He is the Great Physician. He will meet ALL of your needs. He is completely trustworthy at all times. There is only One worthy of that role.
Now of course I still expect some human decency, for people to stay in their lane on the highway, and for civilized behavior, which is actually expecting a whole lot. I am chuckling here, whether or not people live up to those expectations, I still think it is important we maintain some kind of standard, however unrealistic that may be.
However, I’m speaking more about those close to us who have a greater ability to hurt our feelings. Several years ago the Lord taught me to be grateful for hurt feelings. I kid you not, that was huge pill to swallow and it did not go down easily, but when people hurt your feelings it also means that you have kept your heart soft to them and you actually have some feelings to trample on. Love is risk, it is a willingness to open yourself up to potential pain. Another definition of grace is to, absorb the cost. Pain and hurt feelings are a part of the love deal.
I kind of live right in the middle of clown world, the 9th circuit of hell, where people are so disconnected from Jesus and from one another, that someone could break into your house, and you would be the one in trouble for being so insensitive towards those with mental health issues just trying to live out the thug life.
I so want to laugh but that’s not even an exaggeration.
On the bright side, I have now had the opportunity to get really clear about what I believe and why. I don’t care if the mayor, city council, state government, many churches, and a good majority are in favor of something, that still doesn’t make it true. It doesn’t make it “good,” either.
There are some priceless gifts I have received, some incredible insights I’ve gained from living and suffering in the midst of so much human dysfunction. All in good fun here, I’m quite ready to graduate and move on from this area now, try living among “normal” folks, but I just want to take note of how faithful the Lord is, how rich He has made me with all this fertilizer.
See, there's this thing called biology... 
These thoughts are so true. I often wonder what normal is anymore. I think it must be what we used to call abnormal. Things are way upside down in my part of the country too. It’s nationwide.
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It is so nutty, Kathy! A bit tragic but funny too, when I was kid I got to catch a few episodes of the “Addam’s Family” and I genuinely thought I had finally found some normal people. So here you have this family of genuine monsters, treating one another kindly, being a family, and the romance between Morticia and Gomez is still legendary to this day.
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A never ending story🥸
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We can only hope the fertilizer has been well composted.
The is a big difference between expecting to find God in other people and being pleasantly surprised when we see someone allow Jesus to live in them and through them.
He knocks on the door to our hearts, but we are not very good about opening that door. That is why it is usually a disappointment when we expect Godly behavior from others.
Our world is much like a nursery. We may seem cute sometimes, but we are still brats (and sometimes much worse). Our Lord is very kind to feed us, wipe our butts and change our diapers.
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Amen, Tom. There is a lovely legend about earth being like heaven’s womb, and when we are properly formed, we shall eventually be born into heaven. Much like children in the womb, we are often unable to even comprehend that there might be a whole other world out there we haven’t seen yet.
You’re quite right, fertilizer that has been aged properly is much more pleasant to work with.
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At the beginning, I thought maybe you were going to make it “all about Jesus.” We should take everything to Him. We should trust his guidance in all things. He tells us and shows us how to humble ourselves, love our neighbors, follow our Father’s will, and live a life of meaning and purpose. When we fall short trying to follow His example, He still forgives us, fixes what we have broken, and puts us back on the path again. If we all did that, the world would be a lot better. When a few of us start doing that, we can help things to be at least a little better. J.
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I did my time in let’s say Illinois is the 8th circuit of hell living there for 44 years of my life. I moved to Texas nearly 17 years ago and though Texas has her problems here and there it is nothing near what the 8th and 9th circuits of hell have.
I learned as a child it was not all about me and as an adult I know it is better to take it to Jesus than anywhere else. Do I always do that? No I don’t and often end up regretting it when I don’t. I will say there are very few people that can hurt my feelings and even fewer that can make me cry. For me it has little to do with love it is more of a self preservation thing that extends back to childhood and I never turned it off. I do cry when I am angry like really angry and I have had to warn people with me that is the danger zone because I seldom get that angry anymore.
I got to the point growing up my mother could hit me pretty hard in the face and I wouldn’t even bat an eye. Was that a good thing? No probably not, but again self preservation I refused also to give her what she wanted.
I am softer now and there is a part of me that hates that, but I feel it is for the best and I feel Jesus has had a lot to do with that. I care more now than I have ever before in my life and I am not sure how I feel about that.
People staying in their lane that made me giggle a little so they know how to do that where you live? I know in the 8th circuit of hell they certainly don’t. I had a woman from there say I moved to Texas so I could shoot people like all other Texans do. I am not sure where she got the idea we are just having shoot outs in the middle of the street here, but she has evidently mistaken us for Chicago.
It has helped my sanity learning to lean on Jesus and to see that if it weren’t for him I would still be like those in the 8th circuit of hell.
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Old hymn “Tell It to Jesus”…. He is a friend that’s well known; we have no other such a friend or brother, tell it to Jesus alone. If one does that, he will not have so much trouble forgiving. If a wife blabs to friends and family, she will find it hard to forgive and reconcile because her pride is on the line at that point. Example only. It is true in all relationships.
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True, what you said about fertilizer, I.B. It stinks, but it does make you grow. Thanks for being a light in a dark place, for representing heaven in the 9th circuit of hell.
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Reblogged this on For Such A Time As This and commented:
Absolutely love this…and so true!
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Thank you, much appreciated. 🙂
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Your peddling of ancient conspiracy theories must be very troubling for current politicians! Please don’t stop!
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LOL! Thank you, that was well said.
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