HARSH WORDS

"Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven
our debtors."  Matthew 6:11

      How do you handle harsh words spoken to you?  When they stab your heart like a knife, what is your reaction?

      Dennis, my grandson, who was thirty years old and still did not have his act together, called me one evening and asked if he could stay the night because he had no place to go.  R.J. and I agreed that he could spend the night.  My son gave him a job, so we allowed my grandson to stay at our house until he received his first paycheck.

      For some strange reason which I do not understand, my husband becomes argumentative and sarcastic when anyone is staying at our house.  Consequently, life becomes a bit hectic when we have guests.

      After nearly a month it was time for my grandson to move out to a place of his own.  When I asked him to gather up all his electronic paraphernalia which was strewn all over the garage, much to my husband's disdain, he got angry at me and said some cruel and harsh things to me.

      I cried out, "Oh God, this is not fair!  With R.J. acting mean and grumpy and Dennis staying out until all hours of the night so he can't get up for work in the mornings, I am worn out from the stress.  Please help me!"

      The next morning my dear friend Shirley called and prayed with me, and I was encouraged to trust God to work things out.

      Now, I knew I had to choose to forgive my grandson.  Even though I was so hurt, I knew I must forgive his harsh words.  I also knew that if I didn't a root of bitterness would spring up in my heart, as the Bible says in Hebrews, and I did not want this to happen.  So I prayed, "Lord, remove all my feeling of resentment from my heart.  I forgive Dennis' life.  I love him and want Your best for him.  I would be grateful if You would change his heart so he won't be angry at me for making him move out."

      Would you believe that no sooner had I finished praying when the phone rang!  My grandson was calling in answer to my prayer!  Our God is so faithful!  This poem the Lord gave me expresses my thought about harsh words:

            How fragile are our feelings deep inside
            Behind a mask of cheerfulness we hide
            How insensitive is man who tramples underfoot
            Our tenderness is crushed without a backward look!

            We must be forgiving of thoughtless cold remarks
            Spoken in haste or misguided love, yet causing sparks!
            For, who can throw the first stone?  You or I?
            And who can bridle the tongue that makes another cry?

            Only Jesus can correct and heal and erase,
            Put us back together like a mended broken vase
            Oh Jesus, remove the painful hurts that tear us apart
            Forgive our unkindness: help us make a new start.