Today's post is going to be brutally honest. I have had a thought going around in my head the last couple of days and have been so thankful for what God has been faithful in showing me.
Where do you go when life is stressful? What do you do to try and get yourself "into a better space"?
Some women look to shopping for comfort (admit it, how many times have you heard the term "retail therapy"?); Some women take their frustrations out on cleaning their home or maybe walking the treadmill. Other women hide behind acts of charity or perhaps hold their children tight to fill their gap to have a "purpose in life". These forms of "comfort" are of course socially acceptable right?
What about the woman who sleeps with a stranger in attempts to fill that deep longing to be loved and accepted? What about the woman who shoots up or pops the pills to temporarily escape the pressures of life? Or, what about the woman who weighs 100lbs and is struggling with anorexia or the woman who weighs 300lbs and turns to food for comfort when she doesnt know how to handle the overwhelming emotions?
If we are honest, how do you rate these behaviours on what is more or less acceptable? Are these last behaviours really that much less acceptable? Or perhaps we sit on a throne judging those who have developed "less acceptable" ways of protecting themselves from further hurt and rejection?
Father showed me this week that eating two potatoe chips for comfort is no better than the woman who pops one pill. And, eating chips is no worse than the woman who withdraws from friends to protect herself or the woman who serves faithfully in church every week; or the woman who just "needs" to go shopping for some of that "retail therapy".
When we walk in our flesh, we will experience death and frustration. I suggest that before we look at others and judge their behaviours, we ask Father to show us what our OWN flesh looks like. What do we do when we are trying to cope or protect ourselves from further hurt?
I suggest that when we begin to look at our own plank, then maybe we will be more compassionate, loving and accepting to others.
Til Next Time
Jacqueline
4 comments:
Good post Jacqueline, good post. I always try to remember that if I point the finger at someone there are always 4 fingers pointing back at me.
What does it mean to judge others? It's important to be specific because it's not the same as being critical or passing judgment. There is a difference between, "Look at that person eating those potato chips!" and "Eating potato chips all the time is not a healthy eating habit." The latter can build people up and help them improve their life, the former does not.
Thanks. Yes there is a difference, but I think that sometimes we don't stop to ask Father if He even wants us to say anything at all; or like the point I was trying to make; if reading a book a day is someone's way of coping; is no better than eating a bag a chips a day - IF its to cope and try to deal with pressures of life. Run to Jesus is the only true answer. Thanks for your comment!
Question: What's the difference between stress relievers and coping methods? Is it OK to go say play Mario Bros. to relieve intense stress and/or emotions? Does it just become problem if you go to it and then stay there?
Good question. There is nothing wrong with walking, reading, playing games etc to help relieve stress; what I am talking about is when we choose to go to those things to make us feel better about ourselves, to get "life" from and to protect ourselves from further hurt and rejection. Even Jesus went for walks and times alone to be with Father; I suggest involve Jesus in those fun "stress relievers" not replace Him with them?? Thanks for your comments Andrena, you are a thinker!
Post a Comment