I’ve done some stupid things in my life.

Some I laugh at and some, I don’t realize just how stupid until I am living in the regret of what I did later in life and it is quite painful. You see, the biblical truth of “you reap what you sow” is a natural law as well as spiritual but when it comes home, the pain is deep and sometimes irrevocable.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom said “ Don’t touch that hot stove”? Why? Because you would get burned!

There is an action and a consequence. Always! At all times! There is never a time that law is not in motion. With the exception of the mercy of God. THAT is the only time we don’t get what we deserve when we do something…. stupid.

Funny thing is, when we are kids, most of the consequences of our actions fall upon our parents or into God’s mercy because we are young and ignorant. But when we become adults, we begin to carry our own burdens and our own consequences. Unless, of course, we have parents who try to rescue us and enable us and then what happens is we become cripled, unable to grow up and take responsibility. Then we believe that it’s ok to blame others for our stupidity, because if “it’s not our fault” then the consequences of those stupid decisions will magically fall on someone else. But they won’t. That’s not the natural or spiritual progression of things.

Why am I saying all this? Because we have to know that when we hurt and wound people that there are consequences. When you are a kid and you do something stupid you might punished by your parents. But when you are an adult and you do the same thing, the consequences that come into your life will impact the lives and welfare of your children and your family.

It is a very different scenario then.

When you wound relationships or say things that cut deep, you cannot take those things back.Some of those things are irrevocable and cannot be mended.

You may not care right now. But you will. And when you do, it may be too late. When Peter asked Jesus, “how many times in a day do we forgive?” Jesus answered, “Seventy times seven.” That’s more than anyone can sin in a day and as Christians we are commanded to forgive. But let me warn you, not everyone is a Christian and there are even some Christians who struggle with forgiveness when they have been wounded deeply.

There will come a day in all of our lives when forgiveness will be the most important thing we can give and receive.

None of our wounds will matter.

None of the anger we currently carry will even have a baring.

The only thing we will crave is the loving forgiveness of someone we love or have hurt.

The most hurtful wound is one that won’t be absolved with forgiveness.

Relationships are the most important gift we have. Not possessions, or status or money or our self righteousness stubborn stance. These things carry no weight in eternity or the scheme of life. Whether you believe in God or not, or eternity makes no difference. These are timeless, natural and spiritual laws that must be respected and honored. These are the souls and hearts of men, women and children that must be treated with dignity no matter how wrong we think they are or how deeply we believe we have been wronged by them.

The same blood atones for mine and well as your sins. The same impact of my sin was felt on the cross as yours.

None of us has the right to say that we have been wounded more than the other. We dishonor ourselves and others when we believe that way. None of us knows the whole of another person’s story or hurts and therefore have no right to presume we are worse off than another. This is blind, selfish and we become fools when we think this way.

There is a price to pay for bitterness and resentment and the bill will come due one day. No question about that. But if we remember the words of Jesus, we may escape the pain of it’s payment. “ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Think before you act.

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”