Our stretched arms and legs peak from under the covers on a cool brisk morning air. Today is the day. Mixed emotions stir like thoughts in a blender and hard to gather one thought and focus. Our minds become splintered with different thoughts. We dwell on should have, could have, would have and what ifs. Sometimes we live a life full of regrets, shame and guilt. The very quills hurt as if we were stunned by a porcupine invading its territory.
Either way your life is splintered and torn by life’s events. Words like nails in a board can cause a splinter. A tragic event can splinter a part of your heart that it still bleeds for closure. Like a lion with a thorn in its paw we tend to lash out at others and even the ones who are trying to help. Maybe someone did not understand what you were going through and hurt you even more with their words. Either way we have splinters.
If you are splintered there is hope. Some in the Christian realm have looked at a specific passage John 13 when it was known that Jesus washed the apostle’s feet. Some say this is about being a servant to each other. Let us look at it from a different point of view.
I see this passage as how to get rid of splinters in our lives. It was custom for guests to remove dust from feet when traveling. Peter had a bath. However, he wanted more than what Jesus was offering. In this account, what did the washing of the feet symbolize? Forgiveness. Jesus was teaching them that they would be clean through Him. However, Jesus told them to do the same to others. In every aspect, relationships are the key component throughout the bible, and the lessons may be difficult for some and for others easy to do: forgive.
The hardest of all of this is learning how to forgive ourselves. Splinters are reminders of the aftermath of the destruction that took place. We can be like an oyster and learn to make a pearl. We can remain like a roaring lion with the thorn stuck in its paw and never get anywhere because it hurts too much. How we view our splintered lives will determine the outcome.
It is true some splinters we cause and not careful in how we handle “rough wood.’ It starts by learning to allow Him to help us forgive ourselves. When we learn to love ourselves then that love can be given to others. That is the pearl. Even though there is that pain, we share the beauty, of how we overcome. It is only temporary if we learn how to get rid of the splinters. Learn how to mend your splintered life. If you need help, I know someone who can. Christ said in john 13:17 “if you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” It is on the application and not on whether we know or understand.
Splinters like grudges, anger, depression or a lack of forgiveness only cripple us like a strong lion roaring for help. Eventually, left untreated can destroy us. Forgiveness of us and others is the key to unlocking the shackles and destroying the splinters. Are you ready to get rid of your splintered life and enter into a healthy peaceful life by getting rid of those splinters?
