I don't know about y'all, but the one thing that I hate doing with a passion is asking for help. I know that it is a pride thing. We all hate to admit when we are just simply unable to do something or we are in a position that we need help. And yes, often the one putting us in that position is our own self. Perhaps that is what makes it even harder to ask for help - the fear of someone telling you "I told you so" or "Why didn't you do it this way?"
Here's the thing about the two statements above, "I told you so" and "Why didn't you do it this way?"... Now that you've been reminded of someone telling you so, is it possible for you to go back in time and fix it? Or not doing something a certain way... can you warp speed back a couple of hours and just change time? I'm guessing that your answer to both of those questions will be "NO". There is nothing that you can do to fix what you have messed up. However, hopefully, we can all learn from the mistakes we make and not do them again.
I do understand that we all need to reflect back on our past and our past mistakes to realize how to go forward in a more efficient and suitable manner. Everyone messes up. It's those "mess ups" that teach us how to be better in the future. And sometimes it is those "mess ups" that teach us how NOT to act toward others in the future.
Every Sunday morning before I leave to go to church, I am reminded of how I have failed in the past. Every week it is something different. It makes no difference of what good I may or may not be accomplishing now. Instead, the focus is put onto how things could have been different or how I have let someone down. Well, no matter how much I would like to correct those mistakes to make things "okay", I have not successfully invented the machine that will allow me to travel back in time. Nope. It's just not going to happen. Nothing is going to be accomplished in reminding me week after week how I have failed. However, because of this weekly scenario playing out, I start the day with a great burden upon me. But that burden has made me more mindful of how I speak to my children and how I speak to others. I try my hardest to be uplifting. Of course, there are times when correction is needed. But correction and condemning are two different things.
One thing that I try to remember is this: Does God tell me "I told you so?" or "Why didn't you do that?" What would He say? Of course, we know when we have done something displeasing to our Father. And we know when our carelessness has caused both ourselves or someone else harm. But even with that knowledge, we know that our God is not going to speak to us in a manner that is hurtful. He cares for us greatly and wants us to succeed. He wants us to have a blessed life. God wants you to feel loved and to be able to show His love. We aren't able to do that as well when we are broken inside.
So let's all try something new. When your child, your spouse, your co-worker, your friend, or whomever it might be in your life messes up royally, try not to say those two little phrases that can do so much damage. Realize that when someone comes to you for help, perhaps they are already battling the demon pride and are weakened. Perhaps, they could use a warrior's ear instead of a judges.
Many blessings to you all!
