Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

Each of us walk a different path through life, and for some there is more suffering than others. I think of young children with cancer, sexual abuse, rape, those who survived the Holocaust, torture... the list goes on and on. We can either choose to look at the glass half full or half empty. It is all in perspective. I had a dear saint tell me one time when I was really going through some things, and felt so overwhelmed. She said to find someone worse off than you, and do something for them, and it will get your mind of where you are at. It took me a while to do that, but I began to look around at other people's problems, and situations, and realized mine wasn't so bad, that I couldn't get up and keep walking. Keeping our focus on Christ first and foremost helps in every situation. It really is all about perspective, about whether you choose to focus on Christ, or focus on your problems.

I'm glad that you're still walking sister! :highfive

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

Well deserved is how I look at it. :icecream

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

"Michael, we're not going to fight about this, okay?" :sing :toofunny

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

Just my opinion, but if the story doesn't end like Job's story ends, the Brave story isn't a good analogy. God is bigger than the Brave's circumstance.

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

If you don't like the analogy, then you will need to write your own. Sometimes people get into such a bad wreck physically, they will be in pain for the rest of their lives and those who have broken an ankle and healed can judge the person for not doing as good of a job at healing as they did, but it doesn't matter. The person doing the judging is the one in the wrong. Some people, since they have only had a certain amount of emotional and spiritual pain, judge those who have had it beyond what they can even imagine. These people judge those who have healed but will have pain for the rest of their lives as not being as good and as spiritual as they are, adding to the pain they already bear. They hold themselves in high esteem, using scriptural platitudes to back up their high self-esteem.

At any rate, none of this matters. What matters is what one thinks and feels of themselves, if one can climb out of the rubble of stones thrown at them and around them.

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

Yes, it is perspective. A child who has fought cancer and medical problems all their lives will just grin quietly when another child says "Oh! I know exactly how you feel! I had my tonsils out once when I was 7!"

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

I'm a lover, not a fighter, Paul........

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

I'm not going to do a tit for tat on hurtful stories. I put them behind me and that's that. Sometimes I remember them, but I mainly remember what God taught me through them all - at least that is what my final focus is when a remembrance comes up.

All of the psychological story analogies have never done anything for me. It's like trying to find a story to suit the circumstance for my own benefit. It's just not enough. Never has been, never will be.

I want to know what the scriptures are telling me. I want to weigh my thoughts, my actions and my decisions by his Word. I've been through enough to know that He's going to take care of me.

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper." My view of that scripture is that I won't be destroyed. I have been in the place where I wanted people to KNOW and UNDERSTAND the dishonesty of the people who hurt me, but I didn't get it. What happened is that God took care of me and my family. That was the weapon that couldn't prosper against me.

I have some painful stories, but God has been too good to me to dwell there.

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

I have fought a good fight, Paul.......... :hmmm So, I guess it depends on what the fight entails and how you go about it.

Re: Just Some Things I've Been Holding In
 

I get SO weary of this "No one understands my pain!"

Just because someone does not like an analogy or agree with a post does NOT mean that cannot understand when one hurts. It's not judging the person, it's merely disagreeing with a post.

There comes a time when we have to let things go and move on.

Okay...now it's my turn...really let me have it and tell me I'm insensitive. :blah