As a parent, friend, employee, employer, woman, or human being, how many guilt trips do you think you take in a given week? Would one a day be accurate or much too low? Ann-Mary, a friend and former co-worker from the days when I sold proprietary drugs, is Catholic. She would always say, "Being Catholic and female, I was born to be guilty." This is not a putdown of Catholicism. Other Catholic relatives and friends have agreed with her.
Answering comments posted on one of my articles gave me the idea for this one. A friend, wife, mother and Christian talked about feeling guilty over something many of us have done which is not a sin. Because of compassion and loving kindness, it seems the norm to feel guilty over a slight misstep or display of weaknesses.
My friends, this is the work of the devil! A guilt trip is one of the worst kinds of trips we can take. It would probably be different if we never packed our baggage, pun intended, and took off but we do. When guilt surfaces, it is recommended that we acknowledge it, speak out against it, and dismiss it. If a trespass has been made, seek forgiveness, repent of it and stand. Guilt contradicts the Cross.
Guilt has a very unfair playmate, too which is worry. We worry about the feeling of guilt. All the while, we are being distracted from all that is right with our lives.
If you feel guilty about a slip of the tongue, next time, be slow to speak and quick to hear. If you feel guilty about lashing out in anger at someone, next time, be slow to wrath. If you feel guilty over something you did, don't do it again. Call it out, release it and be done with it!
Decide to take enjoyable trips. A guilt trip is no fun whatsoever and can be more costly than actually taking off to a resort. It robs us of our health, happiness and much needed energy. Even if we have something about which to feel guilty, get on with it!
We cannot enjoy sunshine under a cloud of guilt. We cannot see the stars twinkle if guilt is hovering overhead. We cannot smell the fragrance of a hot summer day if our nostrils are filled with the stench of guilt. Your loved ones do not get to enjoy the lovely person you are if you're hiding behind guilt.
The guilt trip you're on right now?
God
Understands (you).
It's (your)
Last
Trip! Accept your shortcomings and decide to improve but don't take another guilt trip.
2009 by Avis Ward of AvisWard.com
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