Do you know when it’s a great time to write a post about not getting offended? The week you’re helping to plan your class reunion! As I go to write this post and am receiving messages like, “What exactly are we paying for?” it allows me the opportunity to hone my skills. So rather than responding, “My children’s college educations,” I can pause and craft a sincere response.
Not getting offended has a lot to do with where we place our pride. When we have given our pride away, when we long to reflect our God rather than good on ourselves, it makes it difficult to get offended, because our offenders are dearly loved children of our God.
The best way to stop getting offended is to stop yourself from getting offended. Stop the offense right in its path and be okay getting what you do not deserve. I’m not saying to make yourself a punching bag, but when someone throws shade your way, don’t throw it in your bag and carry it with you throughout the day. Here’s the deal: if they say it, and you pick it up and carry it around…they win. If you repeat it to your friend and stir in the muck…they win more. And if you say it enough that you start to believe it…your offender wins indefinitely.
I’m not messing with that. I refuse to carry what is not mine, especially when it is not true of the child God created me to be. If I long to shine like His precious jewel, I cannot be dirtied up by comments and situations that swirl around me like a tornado.
When you see a tornado, what you see is dirt swirling…exit the tornado. Leaving offensive comments behind will feel at times like you are tearing away from the force a tornado that tries to endlessly pull you in. Do it anyway…pull away, get free. It’s easier to stay and live spinning in dirt but if you do you will live forever dizzy, unable to see through the muck, being pulled by whatever force comes your way…and you will miss your life, the life that is happening just outside the swirl of dirt, because you didn’t leave the trash behind.
Reflect God’s glory like a precious jewel. The easiest way for me to leave my pride behind when I feel like the receiver of something I didn’t deserve is to repeat to myself that they are a child of God too and that He loves them dearly…maybe not what they are saying or doing, but who they are at their core. He wants them too. Leave the dirt to swirl away with the wind. There is no time for being offended.
So yes…everyone has to buy a ticket for the reunion, yes…even if you have food restrictions and no…I am not pocketing the money. Here is a nametag…let’s celebrate our youth. I’m ready to shine because I have left the crazy behind. I will not be offended.
