I recently had a conversation with my sister Karen about an experience one of our maternal aunts had with a friend, who she found was sharing her confidences with someone else. My aunt reportedly called her friend and said two simple words, “thank you.” My sister recounted that she didn’t explain to the friend why she was thanking her, she simply shared those two words and hung up.
I asked my sister why our aunt didn’t go into detail or deride her friend about betraying her trust. She said that our aunt didn’t think the details of what happened mattered as much as the knowledge she gained because of the experience. I was stunned by that perspective because I never considered it before!
This started me thinking about the times in my life when people I considered friends betrayed me — using lies and/or actions as weapons of my destruction or shovels to dig a hole into which they planned me to fall — and how I responded.
The bible teaches that we should, “bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28), but it says nothing about thanking them.
So, like my aunt, for those (former) “friends” who willingly betrayed my trust with destruction in mind, THANK YOU…because you have helped me become who I am now!
This was awesome… Show’s maturity..
Thank you!!
This was such a great and profound message. In one of my sermons, I said that we should send our enemies a “Thank You” card with words that Hallmark can’t convey. These words can only come from the heart. As we go into 2018, my prayer is to say my thanks and leave the rest in 2017. Bless you for this Jackie!
Thank you, My Sister, for your words of inspiration and your role model!
Yes, it helps you grow. You never stop learning. Lord, how much learning am l going to do.
Think about it
Thanks, Mom!
Excellent!
Your sister and aunt were so right, in my 54 years of living, I have tried to touch the lives of others with love and inspiration. To have it some met with betrayal and others use me to for their climb to power. But I have chosen to live life by these standards: I will pray for those who curse me, and God put in my heart Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. I have always taken this to mean that he will stand up and fight my battles and take down my foes.
Please disregard to first post, I was not done with my post
Your sister and aunt were so right, in my 54 years of living; I have tried to touch the lives of others with love and inspiration. To have it sometimes met with betrayal as well as to have others use/try to use me to advance their careers through lies and my hard work.
However, I have learned and chosen to live life by these standards as well: I will pray for those who curse me, because God promises to bless us for our suffering and restraint. However, not for just those things, but the attitude we have during those times of betrayals, lies, or pains, for that is when God measures our character and heart.
Finally, my true mantra of life was bolstered, sitting in church one morning, it was the 4th Sunday, which is youth’s Sunday; the children began to praise danced to a song I had never heard before. As I listen to the song, I began to think, about all that God had done that year and over the past years. I could not stop the tears from flowing my husband was in shocked; he had never seen such emotion in recent years.
The song, “God favored me.” By Hezekiah Walker, and God put in my heart Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. I have always taken this to mean, if I stand down that He will stand up, and fight my battles, and take down my foes. I stood still and saw God’s work.
People say, isn’t that revenge, this is not about revenge, this is about our attitudes, and knowing that no matter what people says or do, we must stay positive, after all, it something to know that is we trust and believe in that will God take a moment and look down and find favor.
I don’t often get comments as generous as yours. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Beautifully stated!! Thank You for this profound message.
I appreciate your comments!!
Dr. Jackie,
Your aunt is not only wise but a strategic optimist. There is little profit in wasting words on one who does not value your confidence.
A lesson bought is a lesson taught.
Thanks for the insight.
Thanks, Rev. Smith, for your kind words!