Sticks & Stones

Yesterday while exercising at the gym, my name was called over the intercom to come to the childcare room. I assumed La-La was fussy due to cutting teeth and was quite surprised to walk in and see Gracie in the arms of Miss Mable, one of the sitters. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Miss Mable couldn't get anything out of her and I was having trouble understanding what she was saying in between her cries. All she would say was "She called me a quitter!" It became obvious I wasn't going to be able to get back to the treadmill, so we packed up our things and left. When we got home and got the kids settled, I sat Gracie down and asked what happened. "I was playing with this older girl and I told her I didn't want to play anymore and that I was finished. And she called me a quitter," Gracie told me and tears began rolling down her face again. I asked her why this upset her and she said, "Because it hurt my feelings! She called me a name!" So we had a long talk about how some people just don't understand how words can hurt other people. I told Gracie, "People call me names every day and it hurts my feelings, too, so I know how you feel." I think she was a bit surprised to hear that some adults still act like kids! I gave her suggestions for how she should handle those kind of things in the future, how she can walk away, and how she can show other people the love of Jesus. "The devil was telling me I should call that girl a name back, but I said no to the devil," she said. I finished my motherly counseling session and asked her if she felt any better. "My mind feels better, but my heart is still sad. Its just going to take me alittle while to get over my sadness," she said. How true that can be.

Whoever said "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" lied through their two front teeth.

When Joshua went to battle the Amelikites along with Moses, there is one particular verse that I take a special liking to. Exodus 17:14 says, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.'"

I believe when we've been hurt by someone, whether by something they've said or done, if we ask God to help us forget the hurt after we've truly forgiven them, He will help us forget. I can honestly tell you in many cases I've prayed for God to help me forget the hurt someone caused, He's taken away that broken spirit. I've tried to remember why I was mad at someone before, only to realize I couldn't remember the situation or what was said.

The old phrase "forgive and forget" doesn't describe our nature, it describes the nature of God. Scripture says He throws our sins "as far as the east is from the west". However, when we choose to forgive and ask God to help us get over the pain, we're able to move on.