Reconcile

Welcome to Friday – our favorite day of the week!

Have you been weighed down by the conflicting emotions of wanting to forgive but not wanting to let go?

I’d like to tell you about a challenging experience I had to get through recently.

In my job as a customer service representative, I was asked to take on some additional responsibilities. It wasn’t a promotion. There was no extra money, just a sort of added title to go with more work.

I relished the challenge.

This new role required me to help supervise my team of workers. I was asked to help manage them, direct them, listen to them and answer their questions.

One of the people I now supervise apparently didn’t understand or appreciate my new role. I’m not sure if she felt she was better qualified, or just didn’t like the fact that I was now in a position to help the team step up to the plate and work a little harder and smarter. Whatever the reason, there was bitterness. It was immediate and fierce.

I began receiving replies to my team emails that were sarcastic in tone. I even received a message asking if I could have special priveleges because of my new responsibilities.

Whenever I passed by her, I got a cold, withering look from her.

She met with my supervisors to complain about me.

It got bad enough that I was losing sleep over it.

A lot of sleep.

Then, just as I was about at the point of giving in to my fears that I was the cause of the animosity, I received an email from her.

She apologized.

She asked for my forgiveness.

She asked if we could be friends.

She told me she hadn’t realized what my responsibilities entailed, and thought I was unfairly giving her extra work when I had no right do delegate tasks.

What would you do?

Would you forgive?

Would you question her motives?

Here’s today’s challenge:

If you’ve been weighed down by a situation where you’re wanting to forgive, but you’re just having a hard time deciding whether or not you can or should let it go –

Forgive.

Forget.

Let go.

It’s certainly not easy, especially considering all the negative emotions and energy that came before now, but hanging on to all of that is no way to live. It’s draining, and it’s likely affecting you much more than it is the other person or people involved.

You don’t have to be their best friend.

You can still be cautious.

You can still be careful.

But forgive.

Today.

No matter how long ago the incident happened. No matter who was right or wrong.

Just forgive.

Move forward.

Move on.

Let it go.

Find reconciliation with the peace you so badly want, even if you can’t reconcile with them.

A friend used the phrase, “water under the bridge” the other day.

The interesting thing about water under the bridge is that you don’t have to run downstream to watch and see what happens.

You can just… let it go and find peace and joy that comes with forgiveness.

Thank you for reading and accepting today’s challenge. Thank you also for being willing to pass it on to others.

Remember, Service is the Action form of Love.

James

Running Late

It’s Tueday. I’m running late with today’s post. I apologize to those of you who are used to a post first thing in the morning.

This is a great way to introduce today’s challenge.

We all have issues with being tardy to a meeting, a lunch or even something more informal.

We also know there are those who are perpetually late in meeting with us.

So, here’s today’s challenge:

Today, let it go.

Remember that as you want to be treated (with kindness and forgiveness), you should be able to forgive those who are late. I’ve found that in most cases, people aren’t late to be rude or inconsiderate.
They often have a very good reason for running behind.

I remember hearing a story about a young woman who was waiting for her steady to pick her up for a date.

She sat home, all dressed and ready for a wonderful time out, but he didn’t show.

No phone call.

No date.

Nothing.

She stewed and steamed, wondering why she was even dating this guy. How could he be so indifferent to her and to her feelings?

She went to bed angry, resolving to chew him out the next time he called on her, and to never see him again.

A day or so later, she heard from his family.

On his way to pick her up, he had been in a terrible car accident. This was back before cellphones, and there was no way for him or the authorities to call her. Even if they could have, the man’s condition was such that he wouldn’t have been able to ask anyone to call and apologize.

Can you imagine her feelings once she found out the true reason for his being late?

How would you feel?

So, today, let’s forgive those who stand us up, who run in late, who seem to have forgotten about us.

Let’s consider the fact that life happens to us all, and though we would like to be judged by our intentions and not our actions, others deserve the same from us.

Thank you for reading today’s challenge. I appreciate you.

And, I’m sorry for running late.

Remember, Service is the Action form of Love.

James

The Toughest Challenge

It's almost Monday. For many of us, the roughest day of the week.

If you’re a first-time visitor, welcome!

If you’re returning, thanks for coming back!

This blog is dedicated to serving others – to do something tiny that will make an impact in your world, and, just as importantly, in someone else’s world.

Throughout the days of the week, I issue a small and simple service challenge. I don’t always know if these challenges are accepted and carried out, but I hope and pray they are.

I would appreciate it if you would link your blog to mine, stumble, dig and otherwise pass the word. I truly believe that by serving others, we can make a great and positive impact in a world that is turning selfish.

So, what’s today’s challenge?

Simple.

Today, your challenge is to forgive.

We all have people in our life who have hurt us. Whether intentional or not, the pain is still there.

Jesus told us to forgive our enemies and bless them that curse us.

A difficult challenge, to be sure. (Notice I said today’s challenge would be simple – I didn’t say it would be easy).

I’m not telling you that you need to walk up to someone who is abusive and tell them you love them and forgive them.

What I’m asking you to do is to forgive them in your heart. Hold a picture of them in your mind and say, “I forgive you”. I’m asking you to get down on your knees and talk to your Heavenly Father about them, about you, and about the situation.

Ask Him to help you forgive.

This challenge, depending on your circumstance, may not be accomplished in one day. That’s okay. Take two days. Take two years, if you need to.

But try.

I promise you that it will be worth it.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please pass it on.

James