God Can See Your Heart

Today is the day that I'm getting back into exercise. I sprained my ankle last week and although I've been swimming and rode the stationary bike, today was the day that I decided to go for a 1 hour walk.

Near the end of my walk today I got yelled at. No, SCREAMED at would be a better choice of words. I was about to cross over across the street and a car was whipping around a circle to the left of me. I hesitated as he did because I thought he was going to go around the circle and turn back around. I didn't know that he intended to turn left, right in front of me. Still, I hesitated to see where the car went.

I was staring to the left to see what the car would do with one foot on the street. The car whizzed by and slowed down just enough for me to hear the expletives coming out of his mouth about me using the sidewalk. He said, "Jesus &^% / Christ, why don't you use the crosswalk, I'll fun your &*%$# over!"

Now I can pretty much guarantee that this guy wasn't praying to Jesus Christ at that moment. He was using the Lord's name in vain. And an interesting thing happened to me? for the first time!!!

I felt sorry for him!!! I actually felt sorry for this young guy who was driving to fast, screaming obscenities out the car window and being basically a jerk to me. I also know because I have some years on me now, that that poor guy will "get his". He's either got a lot of stress in his life right now and doesn't know how to manage it, or he'll be dealing with a lot in the future. These are the things that I actually thought about!!!

The reason that I'm so shocked at my own reaction is that previously, if anyone would get in my face about anything, it would take me a bit of time, but I'd get it together and then I'd LET THEM HAVE IT. I'd just tell them off or somehow get back at them with every bit of certainty that they had displayed earlier.

Once in Charlotte, I had a neighbor who I complained to at 1am that their music was on too loud. They never responded to my knocking so I rang the doorbell. The next morning, the wife reamed my husband out so bad that when he came in, he was calling her crazy! I went over to try to smooth things out and she screamed and yelled and cussed at me just as much. I cowardly walked away but got my revenge. Not only did I tell everyone what bad neighbors they were, I got the music to stop by going to the board of the neighborhood and forcing them to stop the constant pounding every night.

That ruined the relationship for the first 2 years that we lived there. I never wanted to be friends with someone with such a violent temper.

But what was really going on for her? Was she in a bad place in her life? Was there a time where someone else had pressured her or her family to do something?

I never chose to look at those things. I chose to ignore her and treat her like she didn't exist. I can tell you from experience, it is not a good way to live! There are many awkward moments that occur, and it'd just be easier to forgive and forget.

She was actually the one who initiated the conversation again. One day she just waved and said "Hi, how are you?" I responded somewhat pleasantly and from then on, we waved whenever we saw one another.

But I can't tell you that I liked her. No, I still felt like she was an awful woman who didn't want to be a good neighbor.

When I compare my two reactions, I felt so much more peace just forgiving the guy and going on with things. I didn't react at all to him but I know that his day is probably ruined. Holding a grudge is HARD. You have to avoid the person so you don't have to be in an awkward position. You have to look the other way when they approach you to act like you don't see them and then having to totally ignore a person takes so much creative work and effort!

Forgiveness is a whole lot easier! All you have to do is forgive the person and realize that they're not at their best at that moment. Hopefully, they'll regret their actions and make amends but even if you don't, you'll feel better just by forgiving them right away. When you don't forgive someone, your emotions become bitter, and bitterness eats away at your insides. Literally. It can cause stress and even sickness.

I can just imagine that today, the angels that were watching today, recorded something good about me. Perhaps they all nudged each other, smiled and said.. "yah, NOW she's getting it! Now she understands what it takes to become mature".

I know in my heart that I felt better this time about the lousy experience. I know that God saw me honestly feel sorry for that young guy. And I know that it made God happy.

Now, if he can JUST work on making that GUY happy!

Contact information: mary@marygardner.com WEB: www.marygardner.com

Mary Gardner is an Executive Communications Consultant and Coach. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She enjoys seeing the best come out in people and has fun in the process. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5 and lives in Orlando, FL.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


The Final Chapter

Several months ago, I read an... Read More

Contentment in Gratitude

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More

Hard Times Can Be Your Best Time

Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More

The Blessing of Violence

An interesting question arose within a poetry workshop I attended... Read More

Energy Fields and Group Healing

I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More

Stepping Into the Darkness

One of the "loopholes" in my philosophical belief system when... Read More

Abiding in the Word

How many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More

Life Gets Teejus, Don?t It?

Those five words are from a song that I remember... Read More

Anamcara - Driving into Paradise

"Let me take you down to a town called Paradise."Van... Read More

Negative Disturbances

Whenever we have the opportunity to make human assessments, the... Read More

Distorted Perceptions

Often, in being dishonest about our own faults and failures,... Read More

Affirmations for Emotional Hygiene

Last week I talked about the need to practice emotional... Read More

Gods To Do List - Get Specific!

I know eyebrows are probably raising about now, but let... Read More

Understanding the Tarot Card Deck - Part 2

Tarot card reading delves into an individual's psyche and thus... Read More

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

Tea-totalling Texans? Them's fightin' words!I live in a small Texas... Read More

Beyond Normal - The Liquid Level Of Consciousness

I am not enlightened, and yet,... Read More

When Bad Things Happen (Part 2)

The good that Paul writes about is a commitment of... Read More

The Role of the Spiritual Warrior

What power do we hold individually in the midst of... Read More

Look! Its Another New Age!

There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More

Echos Transition

Echo was a flea-bitten gray horse, with brown speckles everywhere,... Read More

What The Bleep is All This Quantum Physics Stuff About?

"Quantum Physics is the science of gods? Newtonian Physics is... Read More

Can People Really Change?

MOST PEOPLE NEVER REALLY CHANGESad, but true.Some people never even... Read More

Complicated is Born of a Simple Thought

(Channelled)Roy, this morning in "Roy Bits," you tried to write... Read More

God Versus the Gods

Aristotle referred to happiness as the most we can achieve.... Read More

Gilligan Finds Jesus!

One day Gilligan ventures off as usual into the jungle.... Read More

When is it Right to be Angry?

Many of us have been taught that it is wrong... Read More

Spiritual Surrender: Living a Peace Filled Life

Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More

Actualizing Personal Truth

Self-actualization comes down to three basic premises: this is who... Read More

Not Upon My Convictions but Upon the Blood of Jesus

"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written... Read More

Are You Hooked to the Power Source?

As Christian's we are often very independent. We try to... Read More

A Medical Intuitive Look at Past Life Wounding

In my work as a Medical Intuitive, I come across... Read More

What Is A Power Song and Where Do I Get One?

All Shamans have several power songs because the vibration of... Read More

Seeking the Sacred

People have always sought the sacred. It is the Divine... Read More