I just came back from a road trip
with one of my little families…entertaining is a small word for what I
experienced; fun, laughter, sights, sounds, commotion, being lost and being
found…so much joy!
I’ve heard it said “Nothing is
more important than family, family is all that matters.” I think it true, of
course I do. My little families are so
amazing, they love me unconditionally; support and encourage me; offer me
comfort; feed me and they are such an entertainment for me…sometimes so funny!
Today was Good Friday and I went
with another one of my little families to our church service where we had to
interact with certain stations… each station telling a different part of the
story of Christ and the cross. It is
amazing what the small ones took in and understood...what Christ sacrificed for us, the cost...His suffering of betrayal and the next thing He did...He loved our heart to death.
Love. Family is important, what they contribute
to our lives…each one something different, mostly love, teaching lessons of
commitment, endurance, patience, loyalty but sometimes families have hard
moments, disobedience, anger, hurt. I
know a family like that, no kindness, no forgiveness…hard.
Betrayal by family is hard.
Friends are important too, they
can also show as much love, compassion and consideration as family… sometimes more.
The expectations are not so…expected; but sometimes they are. Disappointment,
hurt and suffering happens.
Betrayal by a friend is hard.
One of the things that happen is;
circumstances are seen through eyes that have gone through experience, even
though the circumstance may be the same, each person sees it through their own
eyes. Everyone has a story, their
experience has an effect on their circumstance and we don’t know those
eyes. Everyone has a story…just like
you. Just like me. Everyone has a story,
be kind.
Still, stories are misunderstood, hurt happens, betrayal happens.
Betrayal: an act of deliberate disloyalty
An act of
being silent when you know
An act of
inconsiderate hurt
When someone you love hurts you
An act to deceive
An act of
revenge out of fear
Jesus experienced it.
"In the midst of
the darkness, in the midst of the pain, in the midst of the loss, in the midst
of the grief, in the midst of the impossible, Christ meets us there, because He
has been there."
Any betrayal whether by family or friend is hard…tears; blood, sweat
and tears hard.
Recovering from betrayal is hard, but we have to do it. Sometimes doing the hard thing and doing the right thing is the same thing. The hard thing to do when you have been
betrayed is to remain strong; remember what is true; be brave; be kind and then
do the next thing… just breathe and… do the right thing, forgive. From then on be loyal, share words, be considerate, be
honest, do not hurt those you love, be brave.
I was just in Disneyland…Cinderella
says “Have courage and be kind.” This is the hard thing but it is also the right
thing…even in circumstances of betrayal. Now if only everyone would take in
these words, betrayal wouldn’t happen then…would it?
Have courage and be kind…I love
that.
