It was rather unexpected for me, how this theme came to mind. I read a write-up on one of the blogs I follow and I got reminded of the person I used to be.
A quick question for us. How many of us fall into the category of those who criticize themselves, first?.
For example, something unplanned for happens to us, and then we go ahead and put the blame on ourselves. Another example is when something isn’t right in our current environment or with people around us and we go-ahead to also put the blame on ourselves. In clearer terms, you know that thin line between taking responsibility for our actions and just allowing every other person’s garbage become ours.
I used to be the type of person that if I greeted you and you were cold towards me, I am bothered. I would feel like I did something wrong and then take the blame even when it wasn’t mine. Like what if the person is just having a not too great day?. đđ
But then, my dear self is all worrisome trying to find a good reason why I deserved the cold treatment and then take it on myself. Oh, Lord!. đ
Thank God for Himself in my life and how He taught me through on how to also show myself grace. So the same measure I overlook things for others, I should be lenient with myself and not try to paint an image that dumps all the garbage of another person on me.
Like I am not Jesus Christ yeah. Jesus is our only burden bearer and not me. đđ
So how did He get me through this, and detached me from my critic self?
A flashback on this, I remembered some months ago, I realized that 60% of the blog updates I read during that period was about giving grace to one’s self. And then He (God) also was teaching me how to cast my burden on Him. And that included everyone else’s too. So now, if someone is having a bad day. Instead of blaming myself for it, I rather pray for the person to get by it and I take a chill on myself. And let God be the burden bearer in the situation.
So as much as we show others grace, remember to give yourself grace. You can only give out of the measure of abundance that you have.
The grace is forever available. And that we can find when we lay all at His feet. And instead of all the baggage thrown at us, we rather choose His – which is light and never overbearing (Grace).
Reference text:
âAre you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Getaway with me and youâll recover your life. Iâll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with meâwatch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wonât lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and youâll learn to live freely and lightly.â
Matthew 11:28â-âŹ30 (MSG)
Do note that it’s okay to be concerned about what goes on with others. But don’t take up the burden that was never yours to carry in the first place. Cast it all before Him and with that light heart, seek His counsel on how to get by it. Exchange your worries for His solutions and choose Grace – always!.
Blessings. â¤
Wishing you a blessed new week. đ¤
đ¸#HCCounsels#đ¸
Hi Mercy !
This is an excellent post, and it shares much important information.
Many times I gently remind women that they sometimes speak “negative self-talk” to themselves. I hear this often.
In order to speak kindly to others, we need firstly to speak kindly to ourselves.
All of us must try to avoid ‘mind reading.’ As you say, we never know why someone is feeling grumpy, usually it has nothing to do with us.
Let us remember the Lord’s words to love our neighbour ‘as we love ourselves.’ đ¤đˇ
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Hi, ma’am. â¤
đđ Thank you so much. đ¤
Phew. I am glad you get to caution these. It can be an habit, that seem subtle and gradually becomes ones norm if care is not taken. đŻ
Absolutely. I affirm!
Haha. So true. We really should stop doing that. đ
Yes!!!!. I love this. đŻ
Thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate these. â¤
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Though we never know what someone else is going through, we should always smile and be kind to one another. The person may not respond in the way we want, but he or she may reflect on it later that day and realize they missed an opportunity to respond with kindness. Great post! đ
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Yes ma’am. đŻ
Hmm. This is true. Our output should reveal us regardless. Acts of kindness and patience. đ
Thank you. â¤đ¤
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I love how God uses fellow bloggers to help encourage us in our faith. I also love your vulnerability in these blogposts. Thank you!
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Smiles. I am grateful for this too. đ¤đ
Thank you so much. I am glad I did too. đ
You are welcome. Blessings, ma’am. â¤
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Great advice: “Donât take up the burden that was never yours to carry in the first place.” This is something I do need to work on. Thanks, Mercy!đ
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Smiles. I love that part too. It was such a timely message for me too. It’s always His and not ours. đŻ
You are welcome, ma’am. Thanks a lot for your comments. â¤đ¤
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I appreciate how you reminded us that we need to show ourselves some grace. We have to practice forgiveness toward ourselves the same way we do with others. And I also agree, we need to not be selfish and take things personally when people donât respond like we want them to, because they could be having a bad day or going through tough times. Thanks! đ¤â¤ď¸
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Smiles. đ You are welcome, big sis. â¤
Absolutely. đŻ
Yes!!. Patience and grace is key!
Thank you so much for your comments. Blessings. đ¤
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I am another one who is too quick to blame myself if someone is behaving towards me in a way that’s different from the norm. But you so rightly remind us: “Let God be the burden bearer.” Such wise advice, Mercy. Thank you!
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Smiles. I really do understand how that can be. đ
Yes, sis. â¤
You are welcome. Thanks to you too. I appreciate your comments. đ¤
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Yes my sister, an excellent reminder that His grace is sufficient for us and that we cannot take everything upon ourselves. Only in the last few years am I leaving behind that which disturbs my spirit. I felt I had to be like Mother Theresa, but no more.
Continue to be blessed, I was not this wise at your age.
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Smiles. I affirm. We really can’t. If not we would wear ourselves out. đ
Hmm. I am glad you are letting it go actually. A big hug to you for doing that.
Haha. I can relate. đ
Amen. And you too sis. â¤
Aww. đ Bless God. đ
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Great post, Mercy! Our ultimate burden-bearer is Christ. God bless you!
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Thank you so much, ma’am. â¤
Yes, He is. đđ
Amen and you too. đ¤
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Jesus bore our burdens on the cross so that we don’t have to. God says we are forgiven and that we are his.
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Yes, Big bro. đŻ
Yes. We are made free and whole by His redemption. đ
Blessings. đđ¤
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I was thinking I too, am my own worst critic. But then, how did that happen? Perhaps because someone I cared about first criticized me! â¤ď¸đŚđ
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Smiles. I can relate with that thought, sis. đ
Phew. Sorry to learn about that. Hugs. Do try to see beyond the criticism and embrace who God has called you has. You are loved, Sheila!. â¤
And thanks for your comments. đ¤
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His grace is sufficient. He is ever ready to intercede and bear the burden…willingly at that. Apt reminder to let God do His job.
Have a blessed week likewise !
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Yes, sis. đŻ
Smiles. Glad to. Bless God. đâ¤
I am and will do. Thank you so much. Blessings to you and yours. đ¤đ
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Lovely reminder, Mercy. Iâve found that in the past I can be the most critical to myself. I will keep records of my wrongs, get easily angered with myself- all the opposite of 1 Cor 13:4-6. But the Lord has been dealing with me and encouraging me to show love not only to others, but also to myself.
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Thank you, big sis. â¤
Hmm, I can so relate with this. đđŻ
Yes! We really need to. And I am glad He is taking you through that too and same with me. In order to give love as He wants us to, we need to have that love in us too. đ
Thank you for your comments. đ¤â¤
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đ¤âĽď¸đ¤
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This is a timely post. There is something I’m going through right now that this post actually addressed. God must have been using you to pass a message across to me. Thanks, Mercy. God bless
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Wow. I am so excited to know this. Bless God. đ
Smiles. Glad to be a channel He used, for you. đ
You are welcome. đ¤
Amen and you too. đ
P.S – I hope you are a lot better too? – what you mentioned you are going through. Be good bro. đ¤
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I’m better dear. Thanks.
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I am glad, knowing you are. đ¤
You are welcome, bro.
Do take care of you. He’s got you!
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So true. There is a difference between having empathy for another’s current situation & taking that burden upon yourself to fix-it. It’s so easy to get all wound up in something that God didnt intend for you to be personally involved in.
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Yes ma’am. There is a thin line in these. đŻ
I agree. We can get all wound up in it. đ
Thank you so much for your comments. Blessings. đ¤â¤
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“Jesus is our burden-bearer, not me” Wow, friend! You are always astounding me and reminding me of the Savior’s love. Thank you. I love this thought. It’s so hard not to take things personally, but there is always hope in a loving God who knows our hearts and bears those burdens so that we don’t have to. And, He shows us the path toward healing. It’s such a gift.
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Haha. đđ
Smiles. I am glad I do. His love is what keeps us going. đ
You are welcome. đ¤
Yes!!!. đ
Totally. He won’t leave us clueless on how to get through it. His love is amazing. đ
Thank you so much for your comments, sis. â¤đ¤
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I like how you remind us that we should extend grace to ourselves. I find it easier to extend it to others but hard to extend it to myself. Thanks for the reminder that it’s okay to give grace to ourselves and that we shouldn’t take on other peoples burdens since it isn’t ours to bear. God bless.
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Smiles. I am glad I did. â¤
Hmm. This I can relate with. đ
Totally. We should let it go and let Him. đ
Amen. And you too. Thank you, sis. đ¤đ
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đ¤
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Great post, my friend. I am my worst critic, indeed. Thanks for the encouragement
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Smiles. Thank you so much, ma’am. â¤
Smiles. I can relate. đ
You are welcome. Glad to know this encouraged you. đ¤
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This post is beautiful, my sister. It really reflects a lot of spiritual and emotional maturity. I am so glad you are sharing with others such treasures of wisdom!
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Smiles. đ
Thank you so much for your comments, ma’am. đ¤
Glad to. đ Blessings to you and the family. â¤đ
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You are most welcome! And those blessings are gratefully received. Grace and peace to you today!
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Amen. â¤â¤đ¤đ
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I’m glad you shared this.
Sometimes we forget that God is also interested in our Joy and desires that we cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Thanks for the reminder that we need not to rub the faults of others on ourselves, as it is amongst the loads which even besets us and pulls us down.
God bless you!
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Smiles. đ¤đ
Yes!. If only we knew how greatly concerned He is about all that goes on with us. đ¤
Yes!!. đŻ
Amen. And you too, bro. đ¤.
Thank you for your comments. Happy Sunday. đ
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đđ
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Thank you, bro. đ¤
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“You’re your own worst critic and you need to stop being so hard on yourself”
Those are words I have heard way too many times from those who love me. And often times, they are quite right in saying it.
I think I have more of a handle on it lately, but there are still those moments, you know?
Thank you for the reminder and encouragement in here.
Much love to you, dear friend â¤
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Yes sis. We really need to!.
Hmm. Smiles. Admitting it ourselves helps us get out of the zone. đ
Yes!. I can understand. đ
You are welcome, ma’am. đ¤
I am so glad knowing it is to you. đ
Aww. Much love from here, too. â¤
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Thankyou so much for sharing such a amazing post.
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You are welcome, dear. â¤
Glad I did. đ¤
Do enjoy the rest of your weekend. đ
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Thankyou and you too
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I so needed this today. I do the same thing. But I need to let God bear the burden like you said. You are a very effective writer. đâ
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I am so glad to read your comment and to know you read it when you needed it. â¤
Smiles. We should. đ
Thank you so much, ma’am. đđ¤
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This is perfect. Jesus redeemed every aspect of us including the critical parts of our nature. I remember I used to always take responsibility for something not going right. If I was mistreated, I thought I deserved it. God has really shown me how to take a step back not to assume I am automatically at fault. He has also showed allowed me to see my value so now I know how to speak up for myself and be honest instead of accepting substandard circumstances and associations. God is a healer, mender, redeemer and many countless things. I am so glad he can make our lives better if we allow him to do so. Thank you for sharing your heart.
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Smiles. Thank you. đ
Apt!.
Smiles. I can relate to that feeling. đ
I’m loving this. I’m learning to do this too (speak up).
It’s always best to allow Him take charge. đŻ
Totally. He is indeed our “All in all”.
Yes!. Giving Him room to help. đŻ
Smiles. I am so glad I did. Thank you so much for your comments. â¤
Wishing you a blessed day, ma’am. đ¤
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