I get it. Not everybody likes everybody. No law. No sin. But when it’s family then ohhh then it stresses out all parties involved. It is easier to ignore than to be polite. But sometimes you need to be polite. But what do you do when polite isn’t enough? Not go. Not participate? And what do you do when "they" hate you more than "they" love their own? The one you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with?
Hate really matters. It makes a difference. And none of it is good. It destroys. It destroys your own foundation like ants tunneling under it. It is an illusion. Imagine, if you will, a magician with his hat. At any moment he can produce
anything he wishes to sway you or to fool you. None of it is real and no more than a trick of the eye or the slight of hand. Its all in your perspective of what is true. Do not let it make a fool out of you. Do not let it rob you. Keep going. Be polite. Do it anyway. And I as I write this, I recall an instance when one family member actually scraped her nose on the wall to avoid eye contact. Or the drive-by courtesy handshake, which sometimes is a blessing in itself :) I could list another hundred different instances to validate that it is them and not me and they too just might have one or two things that I might have done to validate themselves ;)
But in the end... what does it matter? No one wins. Hate causes pain that is not easily forgotten or forgiven. But that too is an illusion. But Jesus. Seek the love.
Yes they said stuff. Yes they did stuff. Yes they hurt you. Go anyway and Jesus will go with you. You will see the truth that "birds of a feather flock together". But keep looking. Allow yourself to see those who are the real treasure and be blessed by those who adorn your life with goodness and kindness. See those that love and are loving. Be grateful for the mercy that those who do not belong in your life will find themselves busy with others.
It IS hard! I get it! This my struggle as well. What should be happy family encounters is mostly met with dread and despair. I wrestle with this over and over again until I finally concede, over and over again, and give it over to Jesus.
And then there I was, minding my own business and enjoying my sleep when I dreamed that the alarm system went off in our home. A most obnoxious noise. I saw myself trying to turn on the hallway lights but they flickered and stayed dark as my dearest husband entered the basement and yells at someone “what are you doing here?? How did you get in??” And there stood two people covered in ants. Ewww!
And at that point, and thankfully, I awoke. My first thought was "how could this be? This home and property is blessed?" I went downstairs later and prayed in the Spirit and began to twirl and praise Jesus. I felt a vortex of good and Godly love radiating the room. Yay! Then the next morning I awoke to loud audio booming from the television in that very room which is odd as no one had been watching it for quite a few days. As I shut it off I noticed the time was 6:33. And then God showed me this...
Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
And I says to my precious Lord and Savior “them? Noooo! anybody else please!" He says “them.”
Alrighty then Lord. Lights are on. And I am home.
PS... people can know the Ten Commandments and serve the Lord for years and years... yet they trip up on this one. What is there worth hating so much that it will keep you from heaven? Nothing! You are allowed to enter because of Gods grace and that His only son, who lived and died for us, was accepted by you into your heart and your life. What it will do however... is add and lengthen your lessons here.
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