Sometimes The Lord Allows Things
Let's mash two things together that most people don't stop and think about together.
- 5, 10, 20 years ago something happened in your life
- Your personality today
Some number of years ago something happened to you in your life. Whether the death of a loved on, abuse, tragedy, violence, war, etc. Or perhaps the other end of the spectrum where you were spoiled and it destroyed your ability to have healthy relationships. Or perhaps you were coddled, enabled, or told your problems were "ok to keep and not work to overcome".
Regardless of the details, something happened to you years ago. Because that's just part of human life in the universe. Life shouldn't be easy and usually isn't easy.
After thinking about the past, look in the mirror today. Right now.
Who are you today? Who are you really?
We're not talking about your online personality. We're not talking about who you'd like to be someday. We're not talking about who you think you are. We're talking about who you really are based on what thoughts you think inside your head.
Who are you when you're laying in bed, lights out and only your own thoughts rolling around?
How draw a connecting line between what happened years ago and who you are today.
- What happened along that line of years?
- How did that event in the past change how you handled things over the years?
- And how has your personality changed as you travel over that line from who you were to who you are now?
When you stop and think about it we all take years to process stuff. Sometimes decades. Or said another way.
That event that happened years ago is still changing me today.
And then, think forward into your future life. How will your decisions be different in the future, because of what happened to you in the past?
Think about it. Think about who you were and how you thought back when that thing happened to you. And think about how you think, how you feel, what you value now today years later.
If our fashion changes, how much more has our character and personality changed over the years when impacted by something major?
- Are you more patient today? Will you be even more patient tomorrow?
- Are you more compassionate today than you were years ago?
- Are you less self-righteous today? Do you feel humility is growing in you every year going forward?
- Have you learned to communicate better?
Now again looking forward. Who could you become if you hold onto those changes, those lessons learned from the past. How many people could you help using what you learned?
Of course we cannot ignore something in the middle of this... we can and usually are mad at The Lord for allowing that bad thing to happen to us.
But perhaps...
Maybe...
As the years move by we see how Him allowing it to happen has improved us, and will continue to improve us into our future life...
And while that would probably qualify under the "bittersweet" category. It's still amazing to be changed. It's still amazing to have The Lord improve your personality and character. It's still amazing to have The Lord working on you, walking with you, healing you.