forgiveness.

Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
~Reinhold Niebuhr

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

~Ghandi

No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.

~Voltaire

That's me. I am a snowflake. Surely it isn't MY fault... That can't be it.... Most people close to me know that I have dealt with someone lately that has told monstrous, slanderous lies about me, and that I finally, after keeping my mouth shut for many months, had a large meltdown and said what I wanted to to this person... I wasn't right to do that. But momentarily, it felt REALLLLLY good. Today in church, we talked about handling situations the right way, and letting who we are as Christians show through..hmmm... I blew that one the other day. My human side shined, and my Christian side did not. I do feel like I do better than I used to at this, but that really isn't enough. Just because I lasted a year before this confrontation doesn't make it okay. Being a turn the other cheek, forgiving person is the hardest part about trying to truly be Christ-like. It's my biggest fault. And others LOVE LOVE LOVE to point that out, and leave anonymous comments, and talk behind my back. Most of the time, I honestly don't care, because those that know me, know what's true, and who I am. I am not flawless, but I am honest, and I am real. I will screw up, just like everyone else. Being in church every Sunday doesn't change that, and I have never pretended that it did. But it does create accountability, and I need it. I try every day to be more patient.... It is soooo hard for me. I am a very defensive person at times. (Glad to hear that my Sunday school teacher is, too, haha) I am going to do my best to do better. And I am going to do my best to ignore and avoid people that only want to tear me down to make themselves feel better... I have too much GOOD in my life to let others destroy my happiness; so I REFUSE to let that happen anymore.