Monday, November 21, 2011

GUEST WRITER WEEK: CATHERINE FRUISEN


sharp edges

A hostile world! I call to God, I cry to God to help me. ~ Psalm 18:6, The Message
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Catherine Fruisen
Not every child is shown proper love; the ripple-effects of mistreatment in childhood are far-reaching and stubborn. Abuse is cyclical. Jesus Christ glues broken people back together, but while we remain stuck on earth, sharp edges poke through. No one behaves perfectly all of the time, not even believers who have followed Christ for decades; for some, though, the battle is up a steeper hill. If you have close associations with a person from this group—your boss, your best friend, your husband—you live out biblical principles that others only ponder theoretically. 

You can't gloss over Peter's instruction for wives to submit to husbands even as slaves to masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh, (1 Peter 2:18). As a concept, turning the other cheek has special meaning to you. While your office mate complains about the dip in her 401K and a recent trip to the dentist, you hold back tears because someone you love is blind to his own "anger management issues."
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The topic of abuse and how to handle it is bigger than any blog post. If you need help, see a Christian counselor, and read Boundaries. Yes, Jesus tells us not to resist an evil person (Matthew 5:39), but he did not put you on this earth to be anyone's verbal punching bag. True biblical love does not enable abuse or any other sin. God is your protector, and part of his protection includes wise counsel. Get help. Sharp edges really can be softened, over time.
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If you have no idea what this post is about, thank God! And then, show an extra measure of grace to the people you encounter today. Heaven only knows what went on before they walked out the door.

(Illustration by Catherine Fruisen!)

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