Two Stories

Table of Contents
TWO STORIES TO COMPARE

The telephone rings. I smile, a familiar voice on the other end asks "how are you doing?". After a few minutes of conversation about the day the conversation turns to a more serious subject. It seems that a close friend has made a very unkind statement about me. The voice on the phone goes into detail explaining what was said.		While walking barefoot across the yard I step on something sharp. "Ouch!"
After hanging up the phone I think about what was said.		I sit down immediately and look at the bottom of my foot.
I call the first person back and try to find out why the statement was made.		I feel the bottom of my foot - trying to find the offending material.
Unable to come to a conclusion about why the statement was made - I call another friend and ask what they think about it.		I pick at the bottom of my foot until it becomes red and the pain gets worse.
I spend time thinking about the statement and anger begins to grow. "How could they?"		I get a pin and continue to 'pick' at the sore spot.
Deciding that it is not right to allow these feelings - I change what I am thinking about and try to forget it.		Since I do not see anything imbedded in the foot - I stop picking at it and decide to leave it alone.
No matter how I try the statement keeps coming back to my mind and I find myself becoming more upset about it.		Although I have placed a Band-Aid on the wound it continues to cause pain whenever I walk.
I decide to talk to someone else about it and retell the whole story in hopes that I can relieve some of my anger by 'sharing' the pain.		The more I walk on the foot the more painful it becomes. The wound is now swollen and discolored.
After that conversation I find I have only become more aggravated and have caused someone else to be upset about the situation.		Looking closely at the foot I see that it is infected. The tiny wound has spread and now covers an area twice the size.
This continues - calling more people - 'sharing' my pain with others - looking for sympathy and support.		The longer I walk on the foot, ignoring the pain and infection - the worse it gets and the more it spreads.
Finally I understand the only way to stop the pain it to forgive! And to ask God to forgive me.		At last I decide to have the wound cleaned out and the foot treated properly.
The pain will stop when I admit that I am wrong in taking offense. When I repent and ask for forgiveness. And when I begin to pray for the person who hurt me.		The foot can only begin to heal when the offending material is removed and the infection is cleaned out. Then I can walk again without pain.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2 (NIV) The thing we must remember is to change our thinking immediately! As soon as the offensive thought enters our mind we must develop our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and obey when He says: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. - Philip. 4:8 (NIV) Being obedient in this way will keep us from the sin of being offended by another. If we have allowed ourselves to become offended we have been given a way to escape! And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." - Mark 11:25 (NIV) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16 (NIV) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. - 1 Thes. 5:23-24 (NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deut. 31:6 (NIV)