Sunday, December 8, 2013
Sunday Thoughts: Excuses
"I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality…asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing.
Forgiveness says 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology...' But excusing says 'I see that you couldn't help it or didn't mean it; you weren't really to blame.' ...And if we forget this, we shall go away imagining that we have repented and been forgiven when all that has really happened is that we have satisfied ourselves with our own excuses. They may be very bad excuses; we are all too easily satisfied about ourselves." ~ "On Forgiveness," The Weight of Glory - C. S. Lewis
I find myself reflecting on how people 'create their own hell' by their actions but blame others for the pain caused by the consequences.
Lewis causes me to think. People rationalize their behaviors and become like mad-men screaming at the top of their lungs "I'm not the problem. It's YOU. It's THEM. It's society. It's religion. It's my parents. It's...."
The simplest steps toward peace and out of our 'man-made hells' are just that...simple. Stop. Change. Ask forgiveness. Walk down a new path.
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12 comments:
You are so right about this, Parsley! Wishing you a blessed Sunday!
Robin in Virginia
I come across a lot of younger people who are Facebook mad and quick to blame their friends for decisions they have made after they have asked what to do on their pages. Are we breeding a generation of young people who can't make a decision for themselves and accept responsibility?
It seems to be a much harder thing to accept one's own shortcomings than to point the finger at someone else....great post!
Thanks for sharing this today.
So right. You are the only one who can make it happen. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
How is Snuffy?
only by God's grace can this be accomplished
Parsley,
I love this post. Point well taken.
It is fitting for a family member. This is exactly how they are and yet it could be so simple to Change, Ask forgiveness, walk down a new path.
I pray for them every day. It is hard being a Christian when there is evil in every corner. I have been strong in my live because I have God and Jesus by my side.
Thank you for your lovely post.
:)
Parsley,
I am a long time reader and fan of CS Lewis. I agree, people create their own hells and don't want to accept the responsibility of doing so. We live in a society that thrives of excuses -- everyone is "right", "special" and a "victim."
Your Friend,
Deborah
FairfieldHouseNJ.com
You are right on the mark!
stella rose's momma
Forgiveness and Excuses - and much like "want" and "need" today, used interchangeably and incorrectly so.
Oh, amen to what you said!! It seems like this is a blaming society. But, when you think about it, it really got started in the Garden of Eden. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve - and I'm sure they had a thought or two about how this was God's fault, too.
Let's be responsible and take ownership of our *stuff* - then God can work.
GOD BLESS.
So true, Parsley.
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