Bitter or Better

By: Nancy Abiera

 

We all have good and bad experiences in life. However, we have choices to let these situations mold us to become either bitter or better versions of ourselves. How we respond determines whether it makes or breaks us.

I remember being rejected in school when I was in 3rd grade. My teacher pinched my neck when I wasn’t able to respond correctly to her question. It was a horrible experience. I felt humiliated and rejected while insecurity, fear and shame clouded my thinking. I didn’t even have the cour-age to tell my mother because I was so shocked. However, later in life, I developed some ways to help me. Rather than having a victim mentality, I looked for ways I can overcome the negative experiences. We can choose to respond differently by asking ourselves the question: “Would this help me or hurt me?”

Ponder on this and reflect on the two responses below:

We can opt to use the negative weapons of bitter people that can hurt us even more.

W. Wounded & Hurt. Hurt people, hurt people. They hurt others because they are already hurt.

E. Envious & Jealous. We try to cover pain with a protection wall of envy and jealousy.

A.Anger & Resentment. Anger is protective covering our fears, insecurity, shame and hurts.

P. Proud & Hardened Heart. Pride comes in layers to our heart to avoid feelings of pain.

O. Obnoxious & Offensive. These are defense mechanisms of rejection before being rejected.

N. Negative & Self-focused. Thus, we become pessimistic and have tunnel-vision.

S. Self-Pity & Self-loathing. We host a pity party yet no one comes so we end in misery.

On the other hand, we can respond by using positive weapons to help us be better people.

W. Worshipping and Praying. These teach us to lean on God rather than people.

E. Encouragement and Edification then becomes our building blocks making us stronger

A. Affirmation sees things in a broader dimension and makes us more understanding.

P. Positive mentality brings us to a platform of winning rather than whining.

O. Obedience gives us the discipline to practice higher virtues than destructive habits.

N. Noble and virtuous attitudes teach us to be more persevering and resilient.

S. Selflessness and Self-sacrificing make us to be more and more like Jesus.

The choice is yours. You can choose the blessing of being a better person to bless God, others and yourself or you can choose the curse of being a bitter person to curse God, others and yourself.

“When you sow a wind of bitterness in your life, you will reap a whirlwind of trashes all your life.”

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling (infecting) many.” Hebrews 12:14-15 Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge this heaviness of bitterness in my heart for the hurts and all the negative W.E.A.P.O.N.S. that I inflicted on others as well as the hurts I felt from them. I choose to follow Jesus when He said: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Thank you for your gift of forgiveness so, I can forgive myself and others. Jesus, please cleanse my heart, mind, mouth and all areas of my being that have been defiled by bitterness. Holy Spirit, please transform me to be a better person that I may become more and more like Jesus. Amen.

Always choose “On A Bright Side.” I love you readers with the love of the Lord yet God loves you the most. Smile and be a blessing. . ##