LIVE WITH A MISSION
  • Home
  • Books
    • 40 Days Through the Bible
    • Winning the War to Walk Worthy
    • Planning Your Life God's Way
    • From Eden to Patmos >
      • From Eden to Patmos Charts
  • About
    • BJMBC
    • CEP
    • How to Study the Bible Seminar
    • Winning the War to Walk Worthy Seminar
    • Planning Your Life God's Way Seminar
  • For Women
    • Women With A Mission--Blog
    • Your Ideal Day
    • Homeschooling
    • Time Management Resources
    • 6 Month Action Plan
  • Resources
    • For Pastors
    • Life Planning Tools
    • Life Planning Articles
    • Bible Study Resources
    • Spiritual Fitness Journal
    • Minor Prophets
    • For Women
  • Blog

What To Do When Someone Offends You

11/30/2015

 
We are often offended or hurt by the actions of others.  When this happens, what should we do?
Picture
We were reading Joshua 12 before breakfast.  Or, I should say, we were trying to.  For some reason, this Monday morning reading was punctuated by internal chaos.  There were a few funny names in the passage (names like "Og" just beg for discussion), and then there was a heated controversy about the Chinneroth Sea and whether it actually looks like a harp.  
One of my three-year-olds was so intently looking at the map in Daddy's Bible that he sprawled headlong across the table.  It tickled us.  He looked up and saw us laughing and immediately misunderstood the laughter.  With a hurt look on his face, he told us sternly, "It's not funny!"  
Which, of course, made us laugh even harder.  Not at him, you understand, but at his all-around cuteness. Which he misinterpreted and then became even more offended.
Daddy noticed.  "Don't look at them," he said gently to him.  "Look at me and I will smile at you.  I love you."  He smiled at my three year old with love.
Three times during the course of the meal he said the same thing. 
Once someone looked at someone else with a funny look on their face.  (Yes, surprisingly, my children do this.  Even more surprisingly, my children are offended by this.)  "Well, don't look at him," Tim said to the offended person.  "Look at me and I will smile at you.  Like this."  He smiled.  
​
I was moved by this display of fatherly love.  I was moved almost to tears, primarily because I could see my heavenly Father's love in the actions of my husband.

Have you ever been offended by someone else?  They gave you a funny look, or they said something hurtful, or they pointed out a fault of yours that you would prefer they overlooked.  Perhaps it was done in love, but perhaps not.  Perhaps it was done out of extreme spite or blatant maliciousness. 

I have an idea for you. 
When someone hurts you, don't look at them. 
Look at your Father.  
He is smiling at you with love.

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.  
​Jeremiah 31:3
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Tim and Laura

    Timothy and Laura Berrey are missionaries with Gospel Fellowship Association.  They share a passion for missions which has taken them to several countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.  They currently minister in the Philippines.

    Picture

    Want articles like this delivered to your inbox?

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Picture
    LEARN MORE

    Categories

    All
    Act Like A Man
    Family
    Goals
    God's Will
    Hospitality
    Marriage
    Missions
    Parenting
    Pastors' Wives
    Personal Devotions
    Prayer
    Productivity
    Salvation
    THE WORD

    We send out occasional updates about recently published articles and books. To receive these updates, please subscribe to our newsletter.

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    * indicates required

    READ MORE ARTICLES:
    Goal Setting: A Three-Part Series
    Woman With A Mission
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Jin.Dongjun, Honor Photo Bar, Thomas Leth-Olsen, sabo.Photography, IQRemix, Dusty J, [Duncan], MeRawrFloor, Kim Alaniz, stevecadman
  • Home
  • Books
    • 40 Days Through the Bible
    • Winning the War to Walk Worthy
    • Planning Your Life God's Way
    • From Eden to Patmos >
      • From Eden to Patmos Charts
  • About
    • BJMBC
    • CEP
    • How to Study the Bible Seminar
    • Winning the War to Walk Worthy Seminar
    • Planning Your Life God's Way Seminar
  • For Women
    • Women With A Mission--Blog
    • Your Ideal Day
    • Homeschooling
    • Time Management Resources
    • 6 Month Action Plan
  • Resources
    • For Pastors
    • Life Planning Tools
    • Life Planning Articles
    • Bible Study Resources
    • Spiritual Fitness Journal
    • Minor Prophets
    • For Women
  • Blog