There are seasons of life when we face deep emotional pain. It feels like we are walking around with an open, bleeding wound. The response of others to our personal pain can greatly help, or not. Here is a list of typical responses:
~ Glaze-overer : Trying to be helpful, but not understanding. "Look on the bright side...."
~ Judger : Thinking that we aren't handling the situation as best as we ought. "Things could be so much worse. You should be thankful."
~ Distancer : Avoiding contact due to the difficulty of what we are going though.
~ Knife-turner : Responding in a way with words and/or actions that greatly increases our pain, hence turning the knife in our wound.
~ Comforter : Compassionately responding to our pain with words and actions that spread a healing balm on our emotional wound.
As I read the above and think of my recent season of great pain, I can see a particular face in each category. Yesterday, I encountered the knife-turner. This verse in today's sermon addressed my strong feelings against this person:
TV~
Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. [Matthew 18:21,22]
I will, by God's help.
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