Hi. I'm Shelby. I'm the 50-something widowed mom of two great kids trying to figure out what the next part of my life is about. The only thing I know for sure is that I love the Lord and to follow Jesus is my heart. Once in a while I get it right. Mostly I don't and I'm thankful for the grace that covers me. There's a wonderful new man in my life. We were talking about things we like and I said "flutterbys (butterflies, of course) and dragonflies," and his response was that that was kind of funny because his late wife liked them as well. So the blog named itself.

Friday, February 21, 2014

When One Christian Hurts Another

I was deeply hurt today by a Christian sister. I know that at various times I have hurt (or angered or confused or saddened) her as well.  It is not a one-sided thing.  I love her as a person and as my sister in Christ and I have no doubt that she feels the same way.  And Christ's message is about love and kindness.  It baffles me that with so much love and such a perfect example in the person of Jesus we can still get it wrong.

This hurt is deep. There is a part of me that is trying to rebel, to run from all that I know and believe.  I can't.  God has done too deep a work in me since 2007. I have to drop to my knees and pray to be able to forgive, to turn the other cheek, to open my arms to the potential of further hurt.  I can't behave in the same ways I did before I had an intimate relationship with the Lord, in the ways before I began to have a glimmer of understanding about grace.

It would be easier if I could.  But the Christian life isn't about easier.  It's about what's pleasing to God.