Through His Eyes...

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
Desmond Tutu

Last week I took the opportunity to disconnect from social media a little and spent more time with my family. I was able to enjoy time with my girls (my daughter and two visiting nieces). I engaged in conversations with my sons on a deeper level. And I had a stronger and truer connection with my husband.

As the holiday continued on, I had the opportunity to talk with a dear friend. We discussed the broken relationships in our lives and the impact it has on the families. I thought of all the people that are no longer with us, or are estranged from us and I said a prayer for them and for us.

What I realize is that we oftentimes take our hurt and pain and turn it on those closest to us. Sometimes, we allow our hurt and pain to take on a twisted reality in our minds of what is right and wrong. We see things from a place of hurt, which causes us to react from what we perceive to be reality.

Unfortunately, the enemy causes us to see ourselves as right, when we actually may be wrong. We begin to justify our actions, attitudes and words. We speak from a place of hurt, which creates pain for others, as we continue to allow the pain to turn into something evil and vindictive. We see everyone else as wrong, rather than ourselves.

And sometimes, the other person is wrong. But it's not for us to judge them or sentence them. We are to forgive them and love them through all things. What if He didn't forgive us of our sins. I get scared every time that thought passes through my mind. What a saddening fate.

I don't believe He meant for this to happen. He wants us to be healed from our brokenness, and strengthened in our weakness. He wants us to grow closer and not separate. Because despite the words falling from our lips, we do need one another. We can't make it without each other and the truth is we all have our faults and flaws. We all fall short of His glory, and need to learn to look at one another with His eyes and not our own flawed and failing vision.

I would like to share a simple prayer today.

Father, forgive us of all of our iniquities. Help us to forgive one another, as You have chosen to forgive us. Give us sight Lord to see one another through Your eyes and not our own. Teach us to love one another again and appreciate each other, as You have called us to do. And Lord, as we decrease, we pray that You would increase. Let Your will be done. In Jesus' name.

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Living Life Beautifully Inspired!
Chelle Ramsey