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\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There was time in my life when I allowed another\u2019s lies to define who I was.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That was a lifetime ago; and that time has ended.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I don\u2019t know why God put this on my heart today. Maybe with all the violence and ugliness going on in the world, we all need to be reminded to love one another. Maybe someone needed the message I had to impart.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We learn, as\u00a0Christians<\/a>, to see\u00a0Jesus<\/a>\u00a0when we look at people; but how many of us actually have that\u00a0thought<\/a>\u00a0running rampant through our mind every second of our busy days?<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My former\u00a0mother-in-law<\/a>\u00a0never missed an opportunity to voice to my mother that she told her son he should not have married me \u2013 and this was while we were married. Do you think she was seeing Jesus when she spoke those words to another mother? Truth be told, it would actually\u00a0hurt<\/a>\u00a0me<\/span>\u00a0to voice that sentiment to another mother. I identify with other\u2019s feelings on too deep a level to ever consider voicing such a hurtful comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I remember a time when my former husband and one of his co-workers went fishing for the day. At the end of the day, after cleaning the catch, we shared a meal with the other family. As women will do, we talked as we stood in the kitchen preparing the meal. I was surprised \u2013 or perhaps not \u2013 when she very candidly told me that her husband had told her of a\u00a0conversation<\/a>\u00a0he had with my then husband. In that conversation, he said that I was a bitch. There is no other way to phrase that particular word \u2013 my apologies. She went on to tell me that her husband said that he was told I did nothing but scream and yell and fuss all of the time.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Anyone who knows me will tell you I do not handle matters in that particular way. I am a\u00a0person<\/a>\u00a0who holds their\u00a0anger<\/a>\u00a0inside. I rarely ever show my anger or hurt. I detach and become very quite. That doesn\u2019t mean I am not human. I am, and I have been known to slam a few doors \u2013 loud and hard – did I mention\u00a0loud and hard<\/span>\u00a0–\u00a0but screaming is not something I do. I do not like confrontation, and I avoid it whenever possible.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 4:29 \u2013 \u201cDon\u2019t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I asked this woman, if after getting the chance to know me, if she still thought that I was this kind of person. I did not let on, but I was extremely hurt when she replied that she did in fact still believe all that she had heard, because she did not feel that my former husband would lie \u2013 which said to me that she thought I was lying when I denied the allegations. What I wanted to do at that time was grab my daughters and leave. I did not want to stay in a place that was detrimental to my emotional well-being. I could feel myself shutting down, and pasting on that fake smile.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 What I did was hide my hurt and anger inside of me, and stayed for dinner. I never told anyone how devastating that conversation was to me. Little did I know that it would become one of many such conversations in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Colossians 4:6 \u2013 \u201cYour speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ever since that night, when the thoughts come back to haunt me, I get angry with myself. I am angry because I did not stand up for myself. I am angry because I did not confront my\u00a0ex-husband<\/a>. I am angry because another person believed his lies. I am angry because I let what this person believed bother me. I am angry because I wish the memory would vanish. And, that, is not very Christian like either.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And, then I think, maybe the memory comes back to remind me that I am worthy. I am worthy of Jesus\u2019 love. I do not need people like this woman in my life because they make me feel like less than. And, to feel less than, is an insult to\u00a0God<\/a>. It is also a lesson that we need to know and remember. Lies hurt; lies maim; lies destroy; and lies kill. Lies destroy a person\u2019s spirit; what lies within.<\/p>\n

Proverbs 14:1 \u2013 \u201cA wise woman builds her house, while a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For a while, the\u00a0WWJD<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 What would Jesus do \u2013 bracelets were extremely popular. It seemed as though everyone was wearing some form or another of the symbol. I wonder if our actions would be significantly different if we had WWJD branded on our foreheads. While it sounds like a farfetched idea, I urge you to think about it for a moment. When we opened our mouths to lie, or to gossip, would we continue or would we close our mouths?<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This story brings me to a lesson we need to remember. Everyone is of God. And, to insult or lie or belittle another person, is to belittle God, our creator. For that reason, when we see or speak to others, we need to remember one of the greatest lessons of all \u2013 look for Jesus in each face we see and not be led astray.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 As always, I encourage you to share your opinions and experience, and\/or questions. Remember to show courtesy to others in your comments.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Donna<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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  <\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0There was time in my life when I allowed another\u2019s lies to define who I was. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 …<\/p>\n

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