Comments on: Blame and Grace

By: Vivian

Vivian — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:40:36 +0000

I don’t think I’m talking exclusively about loving others, particularly in a way which puts my own sanity at jeopardy. Certainly, there are times we must refrain from what you may call “toxic” situations and relationships. Still, forgiveness and grace are necessary for our own growth, esp. if we wish to NOT repeat past mistakes. (Both of which, I believe, can be achieved even in irreparable relationships, since its truly about your own heart shift towards the “wrong” ones).
So, focusing on grace and blame, (the central message of this ramble), the “don’t cast your pearls before swine” text seems best applied to those who obstinately do NOT WANT your love/help/wisdom/what have you - so perhaps having the “boundaries” to stop devoting time and energy to such a circumstance is best (though grace/forgiveness/love can still be applied). I’ve been lucky enough to know several people/relationships/situations in which the “guilty” sought forgiveness and displayed true repentance, and in such cases I believe that scripture such as “love your neighbor as yourself” and “the extent of your mercy on others is the extent of the mercy you will be shown” are best applied. And in all cases, I believe that my pearls are just as dirty as theirs. And anyone who believes differently should really take a whiff of their own dirty toilet paper, ya feel me?
Co-dependency, from what I know - (which may not be much - aside from doing a LOT of it, lol), is kind of a whole different ballgame. Feeling responsible for others’ feelings and actions, seeking approval at any cost, and having the downright inability to just say NO or STOP or SHUT THE HECK UP has little to do with true grace. In fact, co-dependency is at its heart very selfish, because in truth the co-dependent seeks to fill their own void. Having grace towards those who you might feel justified in “blaming” is about asking God to fill you up and pour His grace and love onto the “undeserving” through you, realizing that you too are in need of grace and forgiveness for the many ways that you can “share in the blame.”

By: lost and found

lost and found — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:30:16 +0000

OK,
dad’s cleanin’ fish, ergo, GRACED with time to share . . .

to me, it’s all about time management, that is,
who do i love how much, when, where, blah, blah, blah???

because i do not yet embody the loving nature of Our Loving Creator,
i must needs settle for my meager slice thereof . .

so
in my time and place
it seems to work best if i do not cast pearls before swine
but rather
share His love to those who can best receive . . .

does this make sense?

if I put myself to task to LOVE EVERYONE ALL THE TIME
i tend toward co dependence

if i, rather, LOVE those, genuinely, whom i am led to so do
then i am in more harmony w/ HisHer Will

fwiw,
mamaSu

By: lost and found

lost and found — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:13:38 +0000

surely,
you’re not blaming the blamers . . .HA!

ain’t life grand?

i am, by this, reminded of the words i’ve been graced to read,
“He (Jesus)loved even unlovely mankind” . . .

would that i could be so loverly . . .

in the “end”, it seems,
that during this lifetime we actually do end up, if we are ever so “lucky”,
being blessed with a rather small, intimate, circle of friends

we LOVE many but LIKE a chosen few . . . mayhaps???

what think y’all???

mamaSu

By: Misty

Misty — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:02:56 +0000

I was recently told about The Shack as well and thought about reserving it at the Library. Maybe we can get together and hash it out? I heard Jesus or the Holy Spirit is referred to as a Gypsy woman or something.

Your awesome!

Mistys last blog post..Help yourself