We've all been there. A friend says or does something that makes you upset and instead of just talking about it or letting it go, you make a big deal about it. Suddenly that one comment causes an unnecessary strain on your relationship. And now the time that you could have been using to have fun and make more memories is wasted on a silly argument. Don't let things grow and fester; just talk about things and forgive and move on.
I know it can be easy to get frustrated with people and the things that they do or say. But instead of pushing them away, tell them what they've done or depending on the severity of the situation let it go. It's exhausting to constantly get upset at someone or to have them get upset at you. In Ephesians 4:26, Paul tells us to not sin in our anger or to let the sun go down on it. Sinning in our anger is basically saying things you didn't mean that hurts someone, doing something you regret. When you're angry it's easy to do things that just make the situation worse. Before deciding to take any action, wait until your anger has subsided enough to think clearly. Also, don't let your anger drag on for days, or maybe years. This does nothing but ruin a relationship and let bitterness take root in your heart.
Being angry, especially at petty things, is most harmful to the person who is holding onto the anger. They are letting relationships be ruined. They are the ones who are constantly miserable. Let it go and be free from the constant bitterness. It's not worth it.
Forgiveness is hard though, especially when someone hurts you deeply. In Matthew 18:22, Jesus tells us to forgive seven times seven times. He's telling us to not put a limit on how many times we forgive someone but to forgive over and over. This does not mean we let someone walk all over us or hold onto a toxic relationship. It means we let go of the bitterness. It means when someone makes a side comment or does something to frustrate you, you take a deep breath and move on.
Patience also ties into forgiveness. If people do something that frustrates you over and over (siblings are the main culprits here), it is so tempting to just blow up at the person and be angry and give them a taste of their own medicine. But what does that accomplish? Absolutely nothing- at least nothing good. It just escalates the situation. It's difficult to be patient. I struggle with it more than I'd like to admit. But it's so important; it diffuses situations and keeps relationships healthy.
Let's all try something. Let's try to be patient and forgiving and loving. Let's try to let things go and to talk about things that are bothering us. I'm sure we will all see an improvement in how we feel and our relationships.
