Regrets

Have you ever found yourself asking a person to do something and then later regretting it? I think we all have. I can remember a time when asking my spouse to wash my clothes.  I offered to go and fold them once they were  dried; only to find that they were discolored. Ouch!
This reminds me of the story of when Sarai, Abram's wife, couldn't have children. But her maid servant Hagar could. So Sarai had this great idea to have Abram lay down with Hagar so Sarai could have children through her. Yet, after Hagar did and she become pregnant, Sarai mistreated Hagar and told Abram to tell her to move out of the city. Ouch!
Now granted, my laundry isn't half as much of a regret as Sarai having Hagar bore a child. 
Yet tell me this. How many times have we made plans for other people to do something, expect others to do something and ended up getting angry with that person? How often do we expect others to answer our call or provide for our daily needs and when they don't deliver we get mad?
Who are we mad at though? Let's look at this. We get mad at the person who didn't jump through hoops for us and accomplish what we wanted done. We get mad with maybe the third person involved like Sarai got upset with Hagar.
We have a difficult time looking at ourselves as the one we should be mad at. The problem with this is that we have to face the facts that our decisions are not always right. We should  admit that our idea was not thought through but was specific and ended up hurting someone else and it affected our life and theirs. We should admit that it may have caused basic injuries such as a broken relationship, physical loss or damage, and more importantly it hurt one or more people along the process.
The best part is that God knew it was going to happen before it started. We, you and me, have to decide what we are going to do about our actions and the reactions of those decisions.
I believe that recognizing who was really at fault might help. I find that when I admit I had a part in it and face the fact that I need to apologize for my part, the situation gets better instead of worse.
You see when two or more are involved in a decision making process and both parties agree; that means that each of us have a responsible part for the outcome, good or bad. 
God knows our hearts. He also knows where we are in life and if the apology we give is honest and pure and not just a bandaid to temporarily fix the situation.
He wants us to live free, free in Christ. Not hold onto bitterness like Sarai did, but be compassionate like God is.
Is there someone that you wronged today? Perhaps someone has wronged you. you have a choice on how you will react to their actions.  Today, I hope you offer forgiveness and begin to live a free and joyous life.
Remember someone can only have you on their hook if you let them.

~ Marjorie