"Looks can be Deceiving"

Patsy
Originally uploaded by Patsy Gutierrez

Ram asked, "What are you doing?" I replied, "Working on my blog." "Oh yeah. What are you writing about?", he asked.
I said, "I'm writing about the girls fishing at Landa Park."
Then he replied, "Why don't you write about us?"
What! I was taken for a moment. Write about us, right now, what we are going through! Well that is exactly what he meant. He wants me to write what we are experiencing right now.
Well as of today we are on a rocky road. We have always been pretty transparent people. If we are happy we laugh, if we are sad we cry and if we are mad we fight. We have never been fake in just being who we are. But the struggles we are facing right now are different then just mere emotions changing. We are on a rocky road in our marriage right now. We are angry with each other, we are hurt with each other, we have said "not so nice" things to one another and there have been many questions raised. What's at stake... everything! The easy option is to say.. "That's it! I've had it! It's over!"
But we never do anything easy and quitting is not an option.
So what's the solution.... Christ's example! Wow, it is so much easier to say it then do it. Right now I don't want to forgive, I don't want to be kind, I want to stay upset and I want to remind him of his failures. Ok, nows the time to look at that "cute little photo" up there and say I can't believe she is acting like that. But it is true! I am just like anybody else, except for one possible difference... My faith. You see, that woman you see in that photo has only one real choice. Yes, I may not want to forgive, I may want to stand in my pride and continue to be ticked off. But if I claim to walk with Christ, if I claim to have any inheritance in His Kingdom than I must swallow my pride and do all that Christ requires of me.
I don't want to forgive Ramiro, but Christ forgave me. I don't want to show kindness but even when I hated Christ he extended great kindness to me. I really want to stay upset and remind Ram of his failures but then I  remember the Lord says he forgives my failures and remembers them no more. You see I don't have an ounce to stand on, I just can't win! If I want to be his disciple I have to live out what he first lived out.  No matter how much I have been hurt, not matter how much I may even be right, the fact remains I still do not have a justified reason to not humble myself and extend love, grace and mercy.
You see, this is what I am talking about. This faith walk is so much harder than I could have ever realized. Forgiveness is not easy. Showing kindness and giving a gentle word or touch seems almost impossible. But when I stop and think and really understand the Cross and what it means for me. Then I have no excuse.
So look again! She looks so sweet, a picture of maternal bliss! But her heart is in opposition to the Lord. There is sin at work that desires to have her. But there is also the Holy Spirit at work that will ultimately win her.
My prayer tonight... Patsy, humble yourself! The Lord will oppose you if you continue to stand in your pride (no matter what rights you think you have). But He will give you the grace you need if you choose to humble yourself. Oh Jesus help me to do that. Help me to love my husband and help me to truly forgive and then ask to be forgiven.