“Resentment. . . a door quietly closes.

Anger… the door slams shut!

Hurts from your heritage.. . fasten the latch!

Weakened faith . . . throw the bolt!

Four elements that can lock up a heart, keeping delight out and darkness in.  Resentment, the cocaine of the emotions.  Anger, the destroyer of joy.  Your heritage- the straitjacket of expectation.  Declining faith- the marauder of hope.” ~ Max Lucado

You can read more of Max’s thoughts on how to open a locked heart here:

Stronger in the Broken Places.

(Just a sidenote for those of you who have been in abusive relationships. Forgiveness does NOT mean I will let him hit me again. I had a very twisted view of what Forgiveness meant.  I thought that I was supposed to just ‘forgive and forget’ and let him do it again and again – 70 x 7 right? Wrong.  My forgiveness towards my abusers meant I would not take revenge, nor put myself or my children in harm’s way, but that I would trust GOD to deal with him. I had to let go of the ending  – and walk away.  I was not his Savior, I was not going to change him, it was not my job.  My warped thinking kept me hostage for a long time.  More to come on this area!)

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