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Friday, June 29, 2012

7 times 70

"Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'  Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"       Matthew 18:21-22

Forgiveness is such a hard gift to give.  As humans, it's probably one of the most difficult acts of love for us to live out.

I heard or read somewhere within the past year (I cannot for anything think of where!  I do not like not being able to give credit where credit is due...) a different take on the verse above that has really stuck with me.  So often we translate the meaning of that 22nd verse as Jesus's way of poetically explaining that forgiveness has no limit.  We are to always forgive those who sin against us as Christ continually forgives us.  I agree with that thought.  However, the source which I cannot remember brought a new thought to light.  And here recently, I've begun to lean on that version more and more.

What if those 490 times which Jesus refers to as an appropriate amount of forgiveness is the number of times we should forgive someone for the SAME offense?  We so often parallel this number with separate hurts--if someone does wrong to us 490 separate times, we should forgive them each and every time.  But how often is it that you say you've forgiven someone, but your mind keeps drifting back to those arguments and hurt feelings?  You continually bring up past grievances when new ones arise?

So this new interpretation stated that we should keep forgiving that person for that same transgression, even if it takes us 490 times to truly get to that place of peaceful release; when we can truly put those feelings aside; when they no longer creep into our minds, unsettling our relationships.  And sometimes and with some people, it takes ALL 490 times...

Humans are fabulous at hurting one another.  If someone (or "someones") have hurt you recently, keep forgiving them.  Talk to them.  You may not trust them anymore--and that can take a LONG time to achieve again.  You may not heal quickly.  But keep forgiving them.  Even if it takes 490 times for you to get there...



Simmer that in your minds and hearts for a while...

love, angie

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A little look at our day

Finally a Saturday a home.  One when both of us were in town; no one was coming to visit (not that we haven't LOVED the company we've been having!); Hunter didn't have to work (although there was the threat of such there for a while...).  The yard work was done.  He had no projects looming over head.  The day was ours.  And it was grand.
We used the day to do some deep cleaning of the living room floors.  SO overdue and the house feels so much better now. 

Hunter got his Father's Day presents a day early.  I was just itching to give them to him and thought he may use his gift card tonight.  I made him a Shutterfly book, got him the Jamey Johnson CD he didn't have, and gave him the money to go get his tattoo.  Well, Bella gave him all of that really ;)

I stamped her feet inside the book (thanks to the help of Shawnette/Nanny!), and wrote "following in your footsteps" along with a quote by Freud:  "I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection."

I started preparing our meals for tomorrow.  Hunter got to choose for his special Daddy day, and he wanted me to cook instead of us going out.  He wanted breakfast taquitos and red beans and rice.  We'll be eating well tomorrow :)

We took a little dip in the pool this afternoon.  It was one of our few times to be able to get in during the day instead of the evening.  It started as a little break while AJ was taking her nap.  But after about 10 minutes of us swimming, she was awake.  She just wanted to swim too!  So glad she likes it.

Of course, the US Open.  Bleh.  I do not like golf on TV.  But my boy does.  And apparently this one is kind of a big deal... 
Daddy's little companion and grilling buddy.

Filets on the grill, potatoes in the oven.  Great eating at the Newby household this weekend!

And of course, most of the day went to playing with this sweet little thing!
We have definitely enjoyed the day together, making our plans as we felt like making them.  And the good news is, it's not over yet!

Enjoy your weekends!

love, angie