Don't hoard them
August 18, 2010 (Wednesday)
I ran across an excellent column, written by a woman for women, yet very interesting and helpful to everyone, man or woman. It’s about feelings.
The author, Debbie Puente, writes about her friend, that “she is able to brush away rude or hurtful remarks. She can let things go. I'm not talking about little things either.” And then she confesses, “I'm a recovering feelings hoarder; forever taking things too personally..”
Whether one is male or female, young or old, he/she may identify with the author. It’s easy these days to have hurt feelings. But it’s not a good thing. It is a kind of self-flagellation (I read of a religious group in the Philippines that practices whipping themselves until their bodies are bloody, as an act of penance) that does no one any good. Harboring and hoarding hurt feelings is self-destructive, and also hurtful to relationships.
Perhaps you would enjoy reading the column to which I refer. You can find it by clicking here. It looks to me like very helpful material.
Meanwhile, doing what the Bible says can help us find a better way. Listen to Paul: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV). And this: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).