A month or so ago Dean and I ran away for few hours to Galveston. At one point we were sitting on the ocean wall just watching the water and the birds. It brought me back to a time when we were living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. One weekend we took the ferry to Ocracoke, an island just off the coast and said to be Blackbeard’s hide-out. On our way back to the ferry, there was a storm intensifying and we sat by the dock waiting to see if we could make it home. As I sat in the car being pummeled by wind and sand, I noticed all the birds were sitting facing into the wind.

I thought it was strange, if it were me, I would have my back to the wind. When we finally got home, I looked up why they did that. I was hoping for a super cool meaning like the flying V formation. I found out they face the wind so their feathers don’t get ruffled, which inhibits them flying. They will also ruffle their own feathers to spread the oil that waterproofs their feathers and keeps them together for flying, and to check for twigs and brush.

Well, that wasn’t the bang I was looking for, until I heard the question: “What happens when you get ruffled?” MMMMM, well that got personal, quick. I can get ruffled or offended so easily. God did a work in my heart back then and it was time for a heart check on how I was doing now.

No surprise, I had picked up a few offenses since that time in the Outer Banks. We do that, don’t we? Some offenses we recognize and can let go of fairly easy, but others grab hold and turn into bitterness and unforgiveness.

This life is a continual learning and growing process. Even though we have dealt with a past offense, bitterness or unforgiveness, I can pretty much guarantee there will be a round 2 or 100. There is no lack of how we can get offended. It can come from jobs, spouse, church, friends, media, FB and IG, heck even our kids ~ who we would tackle JJ Watt for hurting ~ can offend us. The important thing is what we do after we are offended. “Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ "‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” Matthew 18:21&22 (NLT)

It doesn’t matter who it is that offends us or how big the hurt or betrayal is, Jesus said we need to forgive. Some offenses we pick up, while others may have been put on us (abuse, etc.) either way we need to deal with them. They will hold us captive and stuck in that place until we do.

In Luke 10:38-42 there is a story about 2 sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus came to their house to eat. Martha got all offended that Mary left her to do all the work? Then Jesus says in verse 41&42: “Martha, Martha” (He probably had to say it twice because of the frenzy she worked herself into) the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

They both had the same invitation, to be with Jesus, but responded differently. We have a choice in how we respond to Jesus’ invitation to freedom and wholeness. We can run around worrying, flustered and even angry over many things (which is so easy to do and can be a default button) OR we can rest at the feet of Jesus. The posture of our heart is more important to Jesus than what we do for Him. Those moments with Jesus that transform us from broken to whole, NO ONE can take away. Oh, we can give our wholeness away by picking up an old offense or a new one.

That’s why it is so important for the birds to face the wind, spread the oil and check for twigs. If they don’t do the fundamentals of taking care of themselves, they will not be able to fly. The same is with us, we need to work to maintain our hearts and attitudes, if not we won’t be all we were created to be.

Let’s deal with the hurt and offense so we can fly, baby, fly!

You are loved and seen by the Creator of all things and I hope you have an amazing day!
All My Love ~
Jodi xoxo

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