"What can man do to me?"

I have tried blogging various times...and every single time I end up completely forgetting about it and stopping after about 4-5 entries. So hopefully this 5,000th time* will be the charm!

Anyway, I must apologize for I am starting this blog off with a bit of a rant. I am just very aggravated right now with people who are just plain mean for no reason whatsoever.  Honestly, what is the point of being so nasty?!

Growing up we will always encounter bullies throughout grammer school and high school...that is just part of growing up. However, when you are 23+ years old and well out of college, living on your own with an "real" job, there is no excuse. You should have figured out by now that being snobby and mean just makes you look extremely immature. Is it supposed to make you look cool to attack another person's looks, personality, religion, etc? Does that give you some sort of power over them? Are you honestly that uncomfortable and unsure of yourself that you have to belittle others to make yourself feel better?

Tonight as I was sitting in a practice room playing away, I took a break and checked my Facebook on my phone. I had a notification that an old photo of me had been commented on by someone who has never really liked me, for reasons I cannot explain. Now, I should have just ignored the notification altogether... that would have been the smart thing to do; however, I will not lie to you and claim to always do the smart thing. In all honesty, is there anyone who hasn't done a stupid thing every now and then? Anyway, as expected the comment had nothing nice to say about me (quite the opposite), and despite the fact that I know I shouldn't let it bother me, it did.

These things always do, which makes me mad at myself once again despite the fact I know I shouldn't be. It is human nature to be hurt by another's negative remarks. For me especially I think, for I am the kind of person who just wants to be liked by all. I know it is not possible for me to win everyone over, but I do certainly try my hardest.

As I've been writing all this down I have really been thinking a lot about Jesus. How did he do it? How did he endure so much ridicule and hatred from people who barely even knew him (or in some cases from people who knew him extremely well)? Well there is only one obvious answer.... the power of God! So tonight, I am reminding myself that His approval is the only one I really need. Though some may hate me, they can not harm me for the Lord is on my side as long as I walk with him, as the bible reminds us:

"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." -Psalm 118:6-8

So what do I do now?
Do I comment back with some clever remark? No!
Do I dwell on it for days on end, letting it ruin my whole weekend? Of couse not!!!

The hurt won't go away over night, it will still bug me from time to time when I least expect it... but then I will just have to remind myself that God loves me and that's all that matters. Thus, I ignore the comment, and if I ever encounter this person again, I show him/her the same love Jesus would have. For as it says in God's word:

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. {...} And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. {...} But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." -Luke 6:27, 31-32, 35-36

Kinda long first post in the blog.... but I think I got some good stuff out.
At least I feel a bit better.

Ok, time to actually start paying attention to the Hindemith playing in my ears so I can decide if I like it enough to write a huge paper on it. So ta-ta for now!

-Erin


*Disclaimer: I tend to exaggerate numbers.... a lot.