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When They Trespass Against
Us
By Steve Goodier
I saw a sign in a church parking lot. It read: "Parking for Church Use Only.
Violators will be towed." I wondered if it might be more effective if some humor
were used: "Parking for Church Use Only. Violators will be baptized." Or,
"Violators will be expected to tithe." That should clear the lot!
I heard of one church that posted a sign that read, "We forgive those who
trespass against us; but they will be towed all the same."
We've all had people trespass against us in one way or another. And we have each
done our share of trespassing. The dictionary defines trespassing as any
offense, transgression or error against others... That covers a tremendous
territory. Our lives are full of trespasses, which is why an effective response
to the trespasses of others is so essential to happy, healthy and whole living.
In his book LEE: THE LAST YEARS, author Charles Flood reports that after the
American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady
who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she
bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery
fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing
with her loss.
After a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." He
seemed to know that as long as she continued to recount her losses, she'd never
get over them. She had to release the North from her debt in order to move on to
healthy living.
In the end, if we learn the power of releasing others from our debt, we will
build the happy and productive lives we want. It may not always be our first
response, but it is our best final response to those who trespass against us.
Steve Goodier
Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional speaker, consultant and
author of numerous books. Visit his site for more information, or to sign up for
his FREE newsletter of Life, Love and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.
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