I guess I should have realized that disconnecting the internet service at home was going to throw Tailor Made off a bit. I was supposed to be catching you up on things and I kind of fell off. I fell prey to convenience.
A couple of weeks ago my morning Bible reading was Psalm 37, and when I read it I knew it was an answer to prayer.
Take It Back
On Christmas Eve I gave my cousin, whom was rooming with me, two weeks to remove himself and all of his belongings from my home. I know, how could I do it on Christmas Eve, right! When something needs to be done nothing should hold you back.
Anyways, I was feeling a little bummed about the whole ordeal. Why? A few reasons:
1) My cousin’s fam and not just oh-that’s-my-cousin-so-he-gets-special-treatment, but I have a genuine love for him. I respected him and treated him better than I do my own brother. We were actually closer than my own sibling.
2) Point #1 being stated, my disappointment in his behavior is what shocked me the most. Why try to use and manipulate someone that is lending themselves to your benefit? I don’t think it’s necessary. I was amazed at his anger when I asked him to leave. God had warned me to expect him to be angry, but I didn’t expect the magnitude.
3) I’m sick of always being in the wrong because I try to be truthful, upfront, and firm. Those three things usually leave no room for error in my thinking. It’s when I try to be “nice” and “tactful” that problems ensue. I think that’s mainly because people consider nice to mean agreeable/spineless and tactful to mean soft/overly apologetic.
A New Word Order
I don’t subscribe to the above definitions of nice and tactful. I believe in cutting the fat and giving people what they need. Granted, I may take a while to say what I have to say because I’m trying to find the best way, albeit the diplomatic way of saying it; best believe though, when it’s said, you will know where I stand.
I learned in high school dealing with females and growing up dealing with my dad not to give anyone the ability to try and read between the lines. I once told a girl: “There were no lines for you to read between.” Firm.
Yet, after looking over the situation with my cousin I had to ask God, “What happened?” And He quickly pointed out that yet again I had moved without asking Him.
I replied, ”Okay, I admit that I didn’t check with You first. I’m sorry, but dang. Why am I always in the wrong? Why doesn’t the other person ever get in trouble?”
So, He directed me to Psalm 37:
1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm. *
A Different Mindset
Admittingly, I was encouraged by the Psalm yet still a little frustrated. And then God reminded that people will know that I am a Christian by my love. Do I really love my cousin? Yes. Then He deserves my forgiveness. God isn’t asking me to be a blind imbicile because love isn’t blind. It sees extremely well. It just doesn’t keep a record of wrongs done because it recognizes the end of evil and the reward of righteousness.
Now, instead of going into express detail of the horrific experience of rooming with my cousin I just cite irreconcilable differences, lol. Or, our personalities are too dominant to occupy the same space. How’s that for diplomatic?
Are you struggling with love, forgiveness, and/or irreconcilable differences?
*New King James Version
I can't stop laughing at your final pic pose in this post Mopping in High-Heels http://bit.ly/awNQOk @elizabethesther #FF
@reidklos I'm still trying to identify the practicalities of leash training a cat, but it's been fun regardless. :)
Ketchup: 2nd Bottle
I guess I should have realized that disconnecting the internet service at home was going to throw Tailor Made off a bit. I was supposed to be catching you up on things and I kind of fell off. I fell prey to convenience.
A couple of weeks ago my morning Bible reading was Psalm 37, and when I read it I knew it was an answer to prayer.
Take It Back
On Christmas Eve I gave my cousin, whom was rooming with me, two weeks to remove himself and all of his belongings from my home. I know, how could I do it on Christmas Eve, right! When something needs to be done nothing should hold you back.
Anyways, I was feeling a little bummed about the whole ordeal. Why? A few reasons:
1) My cousin’s fam and not just oh-that’s-my-cousin-so-he-gets-special-treatment, but I have a genuine love for him. I respected him and treated him better than I do my own brother. We were actually closer than my own sibling.
2) Point #1 being stated, my disappointment in his behavior is what shocked me the most. Why try to use and manipulate someone that is lending themselves to your benefit? I don’t think it’s necessary. I was amazed at his anger when I asked him to leave. God had warned me to expect him to be angry, but I didn’t expect the magnitude.
3) I’m sick of always being in the wrong because I try to be truthful, upfront, and firm. Those three things usually leave no room for error in my thinking. It’s when I try to be “nice” and “tactful” that problems ensue. I think that’s mainly because people consider nice to mean agreeable/spineless and tactful to mean soft/overly apologetic.
A New Word Order
I don’t subscribe to the above definitions of nice and tactful. I believe in cutting the fat and giving people what they need. Granted, I may take a while to say what I have to say because I’m trying to find the best way, albeit the diplomatic way of saying it; best believe though, when it’s said, you will know where I stand.
I learned in high school dealing with females and growing up dealing with my dad not to give anyone the ability to try and read between the lines. I once told a girl: “There were no lines for you to read between.” Firm.
Yet, after looking over the situation with my cousin I had to ask God, “What happened?” And He quickly pointed out that yet again I had moved without asking Him.
I replied, ”Okay, I admit that I didn’t check with You first. I’m sorry, but dang. Why am I always in the wrong? Why doesn’t the other person ever get in trouble?”
So, He directed me to Psalm 37:
A Different Mindset
Admittingly, I was encouraged by the Psalm yet still a little frustrated. And then God reminded that people will know that I am a Christian by my love. Do I really love my cousin? Yes. Then He deserves my forgiveness. God isn’t asking me to be a blind imbicile because love isn’t blind. It sees extremely well. It just doesn’t keep a record of wrongs done because it recognizes the end of evil and the reward of righteousness.
Now, instead of going into express detail of the horrific experience of rooming with my cousin I just cite irreconcilable differences, lol. Or, our personalities are too dominant to occupy the same space. How’s that for diplomatic?
Are you struggling with love, forgiveness, and/or irreconcilable differences?
*New King James Version