Hurt

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossions 3:13 NKJV

There is nothing in this world that can wound a person more than the words or behaviors of another.  More often than not, it is these deep seeded wounds that can last a lifetime.  Hurtful words have broken famlies, friendships, relationships, marriages and even started a war or two.  Why is it that we put so much value on the words of others that when sinful people say hurtful things, we come apart quicker than a wet newspapaer?  Sure, we all have friendships and relationships that we value, and rightly so.  We are, after all, social creatures.  We strive for the attention and companionship of others.  We consider ourselves fortunate if we count many a friend in our circles.  Yet, when one of these people says or does something to hurt us, there is no other pain quite like it.  You'd think we'd all learn our lesson and just give up on people that hurt us so much.  No, even after being wounded by someone, we seek comfort from...ANOTHER PERSON.  Rarely do we venture into that realm that may very well soothe the hurts done to us by others, forgiveness.
In Colossions 3:13 we learn a important lesson from the apostle Paul about the pain that others have inflicted on us.  That lesson?  As Christ our savior has forgiven us, so must we forgive others who hurt us!  Think about that, forgiving others as Jesus forgave us.  Does anyone even have that level of compassion for others?  It's pretty darn hard to show forgiveness to someone who has wounded us with words or deeds.  Come to think of it, when I've been confronted by these situations, my first thought is usually to get even with that rascal!  One way to show the forgiveness of Christ huh?  Yes, I've been guilty of this more often than not.  So, how do we turn that corner to treat others like we want to be treated?  I guess one way would be to realize that people who say hurtful things are themselves hurting.  Not that this excuses any wrong behavior, but it gives a insight into why they are acting out.  Oh, one more thing, which behavior is more wrong, the person who hurts me or the revenge I take on that person?  If we adhere to this eye for an eye behavior, the destructive cycle can only continue.   WE can choose to stop it anytime we choose.
As I write this, I've not spoken with my father for over 25 years.  I couldn't even tell you why, we just don't talk.  My dad is not perfect but, then again, neither is his youngest boy.  Perhaps one day one of us will break that silence...and forgive.  There was a study done recently of the tactics employed by countries around the world to interogate prisoners.  By far, the most feared tactic of all time was solitary confinement away from human contact.  Social creatures that we are.

~Scott~