My Dad didn’t realize (he does now because he’s been in Heaven for 35 years) how deeply it hurt me when I knew I had made him mad at me. And he didn’t understand, at the time, how much I wanted to connect with him. Because, while I was a young boy, he was the authority I needed, wanted, and respected. So, those times I made him angry with me were some of my worst times.
But those worst times weren’t because of disciplinary actions.
No, I’d say most of the time, when I received the “board of education,” I deserved it. Yes, there were times I didn’t. But I attribute those times to my Dad’s human fallibility. We all make mistakes.
But none of that was the cause of those worst times I just mentioned. Those were caused by the disconnect that happened as a result of a lack of obedience or lack of understanding. The disconnect between a father and a son. And the reconnection can only happen with love, repentance, and wisdom.
A great example of how this disconnect feels can be found in the writings of a king from around 3000 years ago. He felt awful about himself. And how he displeased God. So, he wrote…
“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.”
Yeah, you can translate that into, “I feel just awful about how I’ve been. And I’m so sorry I made you mad at me.”
It’s an example of why God considered David a man after His own heart.
The worst times in life are when you hurt someone you love. Or, at least if you have any wisdom in you at all, they should be like that to you.
So, if you’ve hurt or wronged someone you love, and they’re mad at you, tell them how sorry you are. And how much you want to reconnect the loving bond.
And don’t depend on or wait till everything is resolved, later, in Heaven. Do it today.
Tomorrow is too late ’cause it’s not real.
Let your loved ones know just how you feel.
Especially when you’re wrong, and please don’t wait too long.
Your loving words create a golden seal.
Stay tuned,
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