A test...times two!

The true test of character is forgiveness.

This past weekend, I attending a church service and Sunday School lesson in my home church in Deming, where we discussed a book by Max Lucado, and a chapter called "Grief Givers." It discusses David's struggle to kill King Saul after being threatened numerous times by him. David is given several opportunities to take his revenge, and each time, gives up the opportunity to murder Saul because of God's will that Saul be king. He gives up the glory of revenge to allow God to have the final say, in His own time.

The Bible says, "Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple." (Job 5:2)

I have had my fair share of moments of envy, which have had various effects on relationships in my life, from small fights that turn out to be nothing, to the loss of true friendships. Insecurity in what you have in your life breeds this envy...and there is a reason it is one of the seven deadly sins. When you give in to the behavior, the results could make you feel dead inside, like you've lost something. I have lost a good friend as a result and coming to terms with the loss is more than feeling dead inside...I am reminded every day that there is no longer that connection that I depended on for so many years.

The real test in this situation is forgiveness. I forgive my friend for ending the friendship because of my selfishness and jealousy, and I forgive myself for allowing myself to get so caught up in the things missing in my life, that I forgot to concentrate on the things I DID have in my life.

The second test is as my first post. Kind of deep, but needed. Thanks for reading.