Grrrr....growl....huff...snarl....spit....glare... How many times have you ever as a woman, as a Mom, as a wife ever done those things? Oh, I have done them so many times that I couldn't even begin to tell. I can remember growing up and my Momma would say "Watch that attitude!" and I would say "I haven't said a word!!" and then in typical Momma fashion she would say "It's not what you're saying with words it's what you're saying with that look!" I have always gotten into trouble with my "looks"...my entire life!
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How many times have you done all those things because of a person in your life? Raising teenagers is a hard job! Phew...I stay worn out 24/7 it seems like. The drama, the fighting, the restlessness; just the whole ordeal. They don't come with a manual (like I'd read it if they did!) and most days I'm just flying by the seat of my pants.
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The one thing that I have learned as an adult through my children is the fact that sometimes you just gotta draw a line in the sand and say "I'm done." There are people that will come into your life that just don't need to be there. They aren't a good influence, they are rude, hurtful, mean spirited and just plain unnecessary. We try to love them as we should. We try to just turn the other cheek as we should. We try and try and try and then all of a sudden we have had it. Or, is it just me?
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Have you ever stopped to think that the reason that person drives you insane is because they aren't supposed to be a part of your life? Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in every day life that we don't stop and look at the people we surround ourselves with and make sure that they are the people God has us be around. Maybe these people are in our work place or our church...maybe at the ballpark or the store where we normally shop. Due to a situation about a year or so ago our family has had to totally rearrange where we shop, where we "hang out" and where we do alot of things because the people that were in those previous locations just weren't who we needed to be around.
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It is hard to stand up and draw that line but God's word tells us to do just that. "If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them." Titus 3:10-11 (NLT). At first you may not notice the division that is being caused but when you just stop and look around you it becomes evident. At that moment you put a stop to it. Draw that line! Just as it says in Titus...people like that have turned away from the truth. It doesn't say don't pray for them. It doesn't say not to call out their name to the Lord. But, it does say turn away...draw that line. Do you have some lines that need to be drawn?
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