Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13
I had just pulled the covers up over my body when I remembered that the garbage needed to go to the road. After two years living in an apartment, there are things that I have gotten out of the habit of doing. Taking the garbage to the road is one. Maybe, I thought, I can take it up tomorrow before I leave for work. Or maybe it can wait until next week. No, I thought, I better get it to the road tonight. I reluctantly threw the covers off and stepped into my house shoes.
Flashlight in one hand and the wheelie tote in the other, I started up the hill that is my driveway. At first the drive is a gentle incline for the first two-thirds, then there is a sharp incline and finally a lip that brings the drive level with the road. As I pulled the wheelie up the drive, gravity tugged back. “Good gracious!” I grumbled. “What is in this can that is so heavy?” Every step seemed to add ten pounds to the tote.
Reluctantly, the garbage can popped over the lip. I stood on the side of the road in the inky black night, my flashlight penetrating only a couple of feet, to catch my breath. Back down the drive I began shuffling my house shoes. Back inside I locked back up and returned to the comfort of my bed. As I lay waiting on slumber to claim me, I thought about that little escapade.
Everyone has garbage. As I was pulling that wheelie up the drive, I thought about all the garbage that all of us drag along behind us. All that emotional trash weighing us down, impeding us from moving forward, and bogging us down. We all have refuse but we have to learn to unhook it and move on. Oh much easier said than done. I know it well.
Emotional garbage is unforgiveness, pride, fear, guilt and shame. We just can’t allow ourselves to let go of things, so we drag our totes of trash up and down the hills picking up more along the way.
Do you harbor unforgiveness of another or maybe yourself? We are commanded to forgive but it is not just others, it is for ourselves as well. Have you forgiven yourself? Isn’t time you stopped blaming yourself? Punishing yourself? Tossed out the guilt and shame?
We all have done sinful things. Said hurtful words to people. Made selfish choices. We are all guilty of these sins, but dragging it around with you, allowing it to afflict you, robs you of the freedom gained from forgiveness. How can you show Jesus’ love and His desire to forgive and heal if you are unwilling to accept it yourself? Jesus forgave you, so maybe it is time to forgive yourself.
Stop dragging that garbage around.
Typist for Jesus
Mustard Seeds, Modern Parables 