As a beautiful rose has sharp thorns on its stem, so the most happy life can have a few thorns here and there and now and then. Do you have thorns in your life? Are there people or circumstances that you have said were ‘a thorn in your side’?? I have and I do. And sometimes they get me down.
The thorn on the rose can so quickly tear the skin and cause blood to flow. Just as quickly thoughtless words or actions can tear the heart and cause hurt and tears to flow. If the tip of a thorn gets imbedded in your skin it will irritate you to no end. People or circumstances can do the same thing. I’ve been dealing with this a bit lately. Just when I think things are going great a comment on facebook, a photo on instagram, or a thoughtless remark can send me spiraling into a well of insecurity, doubt and irritability.
And then I wonder how recently I have done the same thing to someone else without even realizing it. And how often I take things in a way that is not how they were meant. The things said on facebook, twitter, emails, etc. don’t necessarily carry the connotations I put on them when I read them. They aren’t necessarily meant to be thorns aimed at me. Even when it feels very much like they are. It makes me stop and rethink things that I put out there on social media. And the comments I leave on what someone else has said. And sometimes it comes to the point that I unfollow or hide someone from my reading list. Sometimes it isn’t worth the stress. Even if it is not intentional some things don’t need to be a part of my life. If it’s not edifying and is causing me heartache or tears I’m going to have to put it out-of-sight. And be ever more careful that I am not doing the same to someone else.
How do you deal with the thorns in your life? I pray you will be blessed this week with days free of thorns!
Have a blessed Sunday!
Jill
wow! its as if you knew… thorns everywhere right now. Honey… the people who think as you do don’t leave thorns. How do I deal? sometimes I get involved in my work… or read blogs… get on pinterest and very often, watch ballet on youtube. Its taken me a while to REALLY get this… but the thorny people don’t know they have thorns and don’t like to be told that they do either. (It only makes them grow longer, sharper thorns.) Its better to steer clear. safer that way; especially for us sensitive to the touch of the sharp bite. x
Like, like, like.
Most thorns are self-centered people attempting control. It really hurts to see this type of posting, but all the above comments posted for you are right on. Once you read the posting, it’s hard not to take it in. The used cliche, “WWJD” certainly fits here. These folks are not presenting their opinions in your best interests, but theirs. Judgement of this type is jot from The Lord. If these people posting said a quick prayer for their words, the postings would come out different. It’s a difficult day for you in the big, bad world. Try to unfriendly and delete and pray for peace for you and that they “get it.”
Like, like, like.
Most thorns are self-centered people attempting control. It really hurts to see this type of posting, but all the above comments posted for you are right on. Once you read the posting, it’s hard not to take it in. The used cliche, “WWJD” certainly fits here. These folks are not presenting their opinions in your best interests, but theirs. Judgement of this type is jot from The Lord. If these people posting said a quick prayer for their words, the postings would come out different. It’s a difficult day for you in the big, bad world. Try to unfriendly and delete and pray for peace for you and that they “get it.”
Last year about this time I was dealing with thorny people. I dealt with the situation by backing off of being involved with those people. Over time(a long time) they realized that something was the matter. They didn’t realize they were being thorny. I like what you said “if it’s not intentional some things don’t need to be part of my life”. That is so true. Those people are no longer part of my life and I feel so much better that I have moved on. I also like what Laurel said “that thorny people don’t know they have thorns and don’t like to be told that they do”. Those people who took such a long time to realize that something was the matter didn’t really like being told that their thorns were growing. Definitely staying clear of those people is better.
This was an absolutely perfect post! I think the thing that I try to do is to concentrate on the rose. But when the thorns threaten to choke out the roses then yes, it is necessary to prune them back.
This was a wonderful post for me to read this morning Jill. I actually am having a difficult situation right now with a family member. And even though I’ve done nothing technically ‘wrong’ she is still upset because she doesn’t agree with my actions. I’ve learned that in my family closeness was often mistaken for sameness. And whenever I chose my own way there were always negative reactions that I had to deal with because me being ‘different’ in my family was uncomfortable for everyone. I’ve learned that most of the time, it’s not about me. It’s about them. And when I can react from this more detached place, it allows me not to get hurt or defensive. Or try to over explain. I think that taking a time out from intense situations helps if you go back and deal with things. Not avoid. When it comes to social media I do think we need to trust our reactions. I just wrote a post about my struggle with social media and how it ‘hooks’ us in unhealthy ways so I’m not the person to ask. I cannot imagine someone leaving a negative comment here in particular because you have such a warm, positive energy here. But like I said, it’s not about you Jill. Remember that. Those ‘negative’ folks are struggling with their own thorns you just can’t see.
And you are a beautiful person no matter what kind of comments you get.
Leslie
Jill, I so enjoy your blog and anyone leaving thorns for you just isn’t worth your time. So yes hide them or unfriend them and also pray for them. God can change even the thorniest of hearts.
Why would you let anything on social media upset you?? Those posting don’t know you and may not even be who or what they say they are. Use your delete button freely…..and save your energy for the real people in your life….
Sending you hugs.
Well, that just summed up a conversation I had with a “thorn”. The worst part is that sometimes the thorns are the ones closest to you. I do remind myself that any action or words I say need to be edifying. I don’t want to be a thorn, even though I’m sure I have been at some point. Misunderstandings on social media seem to be the norm 🙁 chin up.
Love, love, love spell check and correctional grammar. I take deep offense to my iPad.
Why anybody would send you an unpleasant comment it’s hard to understand. You are such a sweetheart Jill. I’ve certainly enjoyed getting to “know” you on here.
I might be old, but not too old to “listen” to what the above commenters have said. I’ve learned so much just reading the comments to your post.
I have thorns also but they don’t seem to be going away. Our youngest son’s wife is a “problem” for the whole family. She has been exceedingly awful to me. She wrote terrible things to me on her son’s Facebook page to deliberately hurt me.
She cheated on my son for at least a whole summer. She didn’t know we (hubs and I) knew about it til about 3 yrs. later and she was mad, told me it was none of my business. Excuse me, it was all over Grand Junction and surrounding area in the mortgage broker industry. My son was going to divorce her when he found out but then they discovered their son had stage 4 cancer thru out his body at almost 14. She had done everything she could to keep us away from our grandson. We weren’t allowed to see him when he was in the hospital or at home. The one time we did go to see him when she was gone, my son said we could on the phone. She came home and told us we weren’t welcome in her house and not to come back. Since then she’s done everything possible to be “difficult”. It means we haven’t been able to communicate with our grandson and our granddaughter wants nothing to do with us. As you can imagine this is so hurtful. I’m happy to say grandson is free of cancer now and going to college. I recently found out he’s moved out. I want to call him but when I’ve called before he’s never called back. It’s breaking my heart. I try not to think about it but when holidays roll around it reminds me even more. It caused a rift with our daughter also.
I had a big problem when my kids were growing up, I suffered from depression and anxiety and was a screamer. DIL liked to tell me what a horrible Mother I am and how “I” pushed my kids away from me.
I’m so sorry Jill that anybody would be hurtful to you. Sometimes people say things meaning one thing but how it’s expressed on here sounds cruel or unpleasant. I hope that’s what happened. Hope you know you have lots of people whom care about you a great deal. Happy week.
You are so sweet!
It’s hard to believe that a thorn would be cast towards you, Jill.
Don’t let them get you down, when there are so many out there that can lift you, as you lift them.
w/L
I think we can all relate to thorny times or situations that really prick and we don’t know how to handle. Grace, faith, trust and God’s love!!! Where would I be without them?
Prayers and hugs and Starbucks Blonde coming through my computer screen with yours as the destination!! 🙂