Hello friends, Ann here.
We’ve been talking about difficult relationships for a while on here now. So many of us have difficult relationships, either in our home, or in our extended family.
Some of these difficulties are quite severe.
There are a few strategies, spiritually, for dealing with difficult people. But one I like the best is that of blessing the person who hurts us, behind closed doors.
We all know to do this, but hey, isn’t it worth putting it on here again!
I have a friend who’s a bit older than me, and who I respect. She’s a minister and gives her whole life to God in her ministry. She told me once that as an adult she underwent some terrible abuse at the hands of another person.
I don’t actually know what this person did to her, but I know it involved shredding my friend’s reputation. And knowing what my friend is like and what she gives to others, I feel grieved even knowing this.
My friend cried out to God on her knees and grieved the injustice. But one thing she did in response was every single day she blessed that person in prayer.
I seem to remember her saying she did it every day for a year.
She told me it gave her freedom.
She will always have her guard up with that person in the future — She cannot trust them again. But she is able to be in a room with them now and not be triggered.
I’m not saying that we would all be able to reconcile with someone if we blessed them for a year. Some trauma is so deep; and sometimes there’s a need to protect yourself rather than going back in physically to a hurtful relationship.
But nevertheless it is power to bless someone who hurts you, and to do it behind closed doors, not telling a soul, but pouring good into their life with your words.
Is that a challenge we could even take up? Bless a particular person every. single. day. For a year?
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28 (NIV)
Love
Ann
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