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 dead 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 release) so true love
can prevail?
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