Monday, January 12, 2009

Hurt People, Hurt People

'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:31

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33


I have decided on my last post to disallow comments all together. I am so grateful that so many of you support me so much. I just felt that some of the comments were getting a little ugly toward anonymous and I want to make something clear.

When I decided to write about the comments I had received it was not in anyway because I harbor ill feelings toward these people. I guess part of what hurts me most is that I cannot respond and reach out to those who are obviously also hurting. My heart is broken because there are SO many people that hurt so much and it seems to be a vicious cycle. I don't want that cycle to continue with me.

Though the words said to me were hurtful, I could also hear the hurt behind them. I think we need to be very careful not to judge. We have no idea what hurt lurks behind those words and I am writing this post to ask all of you to join me in prayer today for those hurting hearts. Not just those who have written to me, but all hurting hearts. I also want to make it clear that I am not saying this in the "high and mighty", "I am superior" "Christian" way, I am saying it as another broken, hurting person who sometimes doesn't choose her words carefully enough either.

We need to be very careful not to be judging others. We do it so often (and when I say we, I certainly include myself.) and it is just not for us to do. We are called to love just as Christ loves us. He loves us even when we lash out at Him and hurt him and we are called to do that same thing. We are to leave the judging to him and we are just to love, we are all broken people who screw up and hurt others, none of us are blameless. So I am one broken screw-up who today will be praying for the other broken screw ups of the world, that we will end this cycle of hurting eachother.

2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:2-5

13 comments:

Mama10EE said...

Kristy,

I think your responses both in this post and in the last were very tasteful and non-judgemental. It's hard to imagine how much those comments hurt you, but you managed to show that without being hateful, mean, or rude. It's just another way you are showing the world that you are walking with Christ and strive to be more like him.

Laurie in Ca. said...

Thank you for your compassion Kristy. I too have been on both sides of this debate, and I am trying to stay on the Lords side. It is a daily work in progress for me. I love you.

Laurie

Sheryl said...

all i have to say is: amen!!

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

Well said...

The VW's said...

Another well said lesson! Thanks for the reminder to not judge and to always remember that there are many suffering who need kind words and prayers from us! Many blessings to you!

Erica said...

Isn't that the saddest part....those who hurt the most tend to lash out and attempt to hurt others. I think Satan has a field day with this one...it just goes on and on...with one person lashing out and then others lashing out at them...Your post was so well written. What a heart you have for others.

I am praying that your upcoming news is wonderful. Praying for the little one!

creative gal said...

Beautiful Post! Thank you again for opening up so much in your blog! We are all sinners and sometimes (quite often) people forget that.

Hilary said...

Amen and so wonderfully said!
Isaac's cubbie verse for this week is Matt. 22:39 "Love your neighbor as yourself." So we too have been talking about how we need to love everyone (even our enemy) and treat each other nicely.
Sometimes it is hard to do and you are so right, that we can't judge other people for speaking rudely or hurtfully - they are in need of prayer just as we are!
So, thank you for bringing this to our attention and I will join you in praying for these hurting people who feel the need to leave hurtful comments.
Blessings,
Hilary

Just Me said...

Beautifully written. What a blessing it is to "know" you. Your wonderful heart shines through in these words you have written here. Definitely praying for all the hurting and broken right along with you tonight.

Take care,
Amanda

Momma J said...

Amen, Sista, Amen!

Michelle Farley said...

Well said my dear friend!!!

Chrissy said...

Perfectly written! Thinking of you tonight. Wishing I could say something to take the hurt away. Please do not be discouraged and please continue to speak your heart and request prayer as you always have. I know that you genuinely do lift others up in their time of need. And even more so, God knows. Love you!

Kathy said...

Oh my goodness. Kudos to you for addressing that in a God-honoring manner. I don't know if I could have done the same (Those comments are ridiculous!)What an example you are to us all...

Praying for you as you await this precious blessing!