By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
While loading my dishwasher one day, I noticed a broken glass on the top rack. I picked up the broken pieces, finished the dishes, and continued cleaning the rest of our house.
My next chore was vacuuming the living room. As I went about the task, I felt something warm and wet on my left hand. Looking down, I noticed my hand was bleeding rather profusely. Apparently, in my attempt to clean up the broken glass, I cut my finger.
Strangely, I didn’t realize that I had been cut. In fact, when I saw the blood, I had to stop and think what happened. Once realization set in, I stopped and bandaged my wound to keep the blood from staining our carpet and furniture.
Once again, I am amazed at the spiritual lessons God teaches through everyday life experiences. Like my cut hand, you and I may not realize how bad we’ve been hurt in life until something unexpected pours out later.
Have you ever reacted to a situation a little more drastically than the circumstances deemed necessary? Perhaps extreme anger erupted from a minor irritation. Maybe bitterness reared its ugly head when forgiveness was the proper reply. Sarcasm or hateful words may have spewed forth like venom when a cool and collected response was the appropriate reaction.
“My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.” (Psalm 38:11)
When we respond to a situation radically, we need to ask ourselves if it’s possible that a past injury is causing our adverse reaction to the situation.
To some degree, we are all products of our past. Past experiences can become a catalyst for our future responses. We need to ask God to help us identify any open wounds that may be causing our amplified bleeding response.
Do you have un-bandaged wounds that occasionally bleed? Go to the Father, and ask Him to apply His healing balm over your injury. Do it now, before another hostile response leaves a permanent stain on your relationships.
“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD…” (Jeremiah 30:17)
“…by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
