As I was praying this morning I had this connection with a show I watched last night and that I have watched many seasons of and the emotional condition of our lives. The show is Hoarders. I couldn't bring myself to watch the episode of the lady with the cats, who had used her house as a litter box and most of whom were sick and some who had died. To me it's just too sad when someone loves animals and takes on more than they can care for and ends up causing them pain and harm. Anyway back to what inspired this post. I was praying for someone in my life who has hoarded so much pain, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness in their heart that no one can come in. From outward appearances they have it all together but their relationships have become so distant and broken.
So in the show people, very broken people, surround themselves with things, sometimes things that may have value but sometimes it's just trash. I don't just watch the show out of curiosity, my heart breaks for them and it is good to see when someone has a break through and is helped. So the hoard that fills their homes was created by the individual but it takes many people to help them clean up the mess. Sometimes many years can go by, even decades before anyone else knows the condition they live in. Eventually it may spill into their yard and then the neighbors take notice or someone cares enough to push their way in and calls for help on their behalf. This need to hang on to things is often triggered by a catastrophic life event. They don't realize they are surrounding themselves with things to insulate themselves from pain or people that could cause them more pain. Sometimes there are even people that lived with them that get pushed out by all of the stuff. They subconsciously are trying to protect themselves but the stuff ends up hurting them and making them sick and could even kill them.
So the connection is that when we emotionally hoard things like unforgiveness and resentment we push people away and keep them from getting close. We may think that if I let go of this pain or I forgive I am letting the person or people that hurt me off the hook. We think we are protecting ourselves or insulating ourselves from further pain. The truth is life will continue to bring about pain and people will continue to hurt us so we end up just hoarding more unforgiveness and resentment as time goes by. Eventually it will overflow and will be noticeable or someone will care enough to push past the walls we have built around our hearts.
Just like the things and the trash in these homes creates stench and an environment that is harmful so does emotional hoarding. I'm sure you have heard of the term "stinkin' thinkin'". When you have stuffed so much junk down into your heart it will eventually start to stink. It will come out in your interactions with others. They may not even be the source of your pain but you will take it out on them because your mind and heart are full of rotting resentment. The people that come to help in the show often are seen as an enemy and have to endure hurtful words while they are there trying to rescue the hoarder from the mess they created. Emotional hoarding will hurt the one who is doing it as well. It definitely hurts them emotionally and can eventually hurt them mentally and physically.
That is why God speaks so much about forgiveness. It is not to let the people who hurt us to have a free pass to keep doing so. It is an extension of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Forgiveness and grace were granted to us although we can never earn it or deserve it. God knows that unforgiveness will only hurt us and isolate us and also hurt those that love us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Lu5udXEZI
Ephesians 4:32
New International Version (NIV)
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. "
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom
No comments:
Post a Comment