Category: UNOFFENDABLE

HOW TO BE UNOFFENDABLE

I have an amazing gift. In the middle of the night I can wake up and fully review the latest pain of the day.

WEEK #2

I have an amazing gift. In the middle of the night I can wake up and fully review the latest pain of the day. I then compose an entire plan in my head how I propose to respond to what hurt me. Wait! Did I say this is a gift? No, it is a curse. I lose a lot of sleep functioning this way.

INSOMNIA

AI says this insomnia can “cause significant mental, physical, and functional impairments, ranging from short-term fatigue and irritability to chronic, serious health conditions. Key effects include accidents.”  Did I include that I am accident prone?

THE TOXIC BREW

I use the excuse “This is the way I am wired.” In Week #1 of this series I referenced the book “Unoffendable“. Brant Hansen observes, “But regardless of how we feel, we can actually have a choice on how we respond. It doesn’t mean that we ignore the situation, but we can act without contempt, anger and bitterness.” Brant also admits, “I have lost a lot of sleep with anger and bitterness. I drank that toxic brew, and it percolates within me.”

MY EXCUSE

Life seems so much easier if I allow myself the excuse: “This is just the way I am wired.” However, God tells us to put down the mug of toxic brew. It should not be percolating in the middle of the night.

There are too many good and healthy paths my Shepherd wants to travel with me. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.” (Psalm 37:7-8)

Lord, help me to turn to Your paths…even in the middle of the night!

HOW TO BE UNOFFENDABLE

The longer I live as a believer, the more I realize my Christian life is full of holes. I’m Swiss Cheese, when I should be a block of Cheddar.

WEEK #1

The longer I live as a believer, the more I realize my Christian life is full of holes. I’m Swiss Cheese, when I should be a block of Cheddar. This is especially evident when I am tired. With Bill’s illness I exist continually exhausted. One evidence of this is how easily I become offended.

LIVING LIKE THIS STEALS ENERGY

My emotions run into a sprint when people ignore our situation or say clueless remarks. What about when someone zooms first into the parking space closer to the clinic doors and my husband can barely walk from the car? Yes, I ratchet up the offense meter awfully fast. Living like this steals a lot of energy.

GENUSES AT OBSERVING OTHERS

I asked God for help. That’s when I came across the book “Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better” by Brant Hansen. Brant writes: “We want to think people are worse than us. It’s one of our favorite pastimes. Go to a mall food court, sit down, and listen to the conversations around you. Compare how often people are telling stories about hurtful, wrong things other people did, versus confessing hurtful, wrong things they, themselves, have done. We’re brilliant at this. Geniuses, really.”

HOMEWORK WEEK #1

Homework for Week #1: Daily, note the negative things you hear people say about one another and the negative things which spew out of your own mouth. Take a notebook and write down ten positive things each day you have notice about that day and confess to God the toxins you contributed to the sound waves around you. Let me know your observations.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)