Five Things Every Girl Should Know (Week 5)

Unlocking The Traps -- Fulfilling Our Destinies

Posted by Kathy on Jan 1, 2010 in Blog | 3 comments

Down the street is a monstrous willow tree. The trunk is 10 feet in diameter and its cathedral-sized dimensions fill an entire lot. It holds court as the most beautiful tree for miles. Everyday, I pass under it just for a moment and let its soft tendrils sweep across my face. Inside this willow sanctuary, I try to breath-in the green and exhale the stuff I obsess about.

You know, what I’m talking about?

I am referring to the times in my life when I am petty and want everything to be fair.
When it has been more important to be right, to be justified, or to be vindicated. I attempt to own up to my struggle to be acknowledged, valued, and important. As I stand there it is clear to me that these things make me small. They diminish God in me. They cut me down to size and impair His vision for my life.

The number 5th thing every girl should know is that Unforgiveness robs us of our power.

So many times in my life, I have held on to old wounds, refusing to forgive and move on and I can tell you first hand, it has blocked and impaired me.  The problem with unforgiveness is that it continues to give power to the person or situation that hurt you.  While we may think we are punishing someone by not forgiving, we are really robbing ourselves. It doesn’t really matter whether anyone deserves forgiveness, you deserve to be a person who can forgive and get moving down a life infused path.  You deserve to LIVE WEIGHTLESS. This is the the key to unlocking the trap of unforgiveness.

Are there areas in your life where old wounds have impaired your vision? If you don’t know I am betting your kids and husband know. Your close friends know.  Even my dog, who I think is part therapist and Den mother, knows when I am acting out of this place. She knows when I am not present, pawing the ground over life sucking emotions that rob me of my energies.

What I really want is to be like that willow tree. To let my life stretch a across the sky giving sanctuary to all who stand in my neighborhood. I want to flourish with deep roots that allow me to be steady and cool in times of crisis and sadness. I want to in the flow of life, always growing, moving and adapting.

I challenge you to put the spotlight on the things that hold you back. Get support to let them go, enlist the help of a mentor, a coach or counselor. These thoughts and emotions do not serve you and they will not let you go to the places God has designed for you.

Consider these questions:

1. Who are the people and circumstances in my life that have hurt me?

2. Where have I robbed myself of power by giving it over to my anger?

3. What do I want to do about the unforgiveness in my life?

4.  Who do I need to forgive?

Today is the first day of  2010. As we face this New Year I think the world could use a few more willow trees. Places of sanctuary and refueling, where our God given power can be restored and refreshed.
My wish for you in 2010 is that you will commit to LIVE WEIGHTLESS and once again find the vision and power for your path.  The world is waiting…