Monday, November 29, 2010

The Things I Don't Bring

Michael here...

"Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning; that without listening, speaking no longer heals; that without distance, closeness cannot cure"      -Henri Nouwen



So many of my interactions with others are filled with my words or actions to attempts to either prove myself to them, or to help them with something, when what is usually needed is for me to shut my mouth and just accept them where they are, and listen to them. I have to constantly remind myself that people don't need to be fixed, they need to be loved. God did not equip any of us to fix all the problems of the people around us, but he did equip us to forgive, to show mercy, and to love. Sometimes what I don't bring is what people need the most.

3 comments:

  1. Ouu CONVICTION! Got me a little on this one. I need to make a phone call....dangit. Gotta love the work of the Spirit!
    Ugh, I do this sometimes too; even when i don't mean too. :(

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  2. I am so glad you posted this! It gave me great revelation to the friction I felt in a few situations. After reading this and it soaking in, I realized how my other centered contempt was attacking my worth... I knew it did, I just didn't know how it did for me, I couldn't bridge the gap. That whole "sounds like it makes sense but I can't really relate" thing was definitely in play here. lol

    And man is it hard to fight something you can't "see". Then the light bulb flicked... I sense my worth being questioned when I perceive others to point at things in me that need to be "fixed" instead of just enjoying me. All I ever wanted...just to be purely enjoyed.
    Now that I SEE it, I can STAND and fight it! ;) WooHooo Freedom!

    Thank You So Much for your openess! :D Way to go! You win today! :) haha

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  3. It's like Rich Mullins said - My friends aren't the way I wish they were, they're just the way they are.

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