FORGET ABOUT IT!
An abandoned orphan boy wanted
nothing more in the world than to belong to a family. At age eight, his opportunity came. A family wanted to adopt him! Introductions were made, papers were signed,
and soon he arrived at his new home. The
young lad took along all his hope and possessions, the old worn out clothes he
was wearing and one single toy.
His new parents were
delighted to have him and desperately wanted him to feel like part of the family.
A special celebration dinner was
held. He was given his own room and introduced
to other kids on their street. They
discarded his old clothes and bought him beautiful new ones. Also they bought him a bike and a variety of
toys. Pretty soon he began to feel just
like the other children in the neighborhood, very well loved and part of a great
family.
However, one thing was rather
curious. The young boy’s old shoes, ones
with big holes in them, were not tossed out with the rest of his old clothes. His new father placed them prominently on the living
room mantel and it wasn’t long before his newly adopted son found out why. Every time he did something wrong his father
would go and get those shoes and say “Look at all we’ve done for you. We took you in when you had nothing. Now look at how you have behaved!”
Unfortunately, too many of us have the tendency to do the same
thing in our relationships. All too
often, we dredge up the past and throw it back in someone’s face, never letting
them forget how much they are indebted to us.
True love and genuine acceptance will make us throw out the old shoes, absolutely refusing to exhume the
body of someone’s past (or reminders of our generosity toward them) in order to
hold it over their head.
Think. What life experiences did you have to let go
(or should you let go) so true love can prevail?
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