God Shows Us How to Handle Personal Hurts!

Veronica loved her Mom’s Waterford crystal bowl.  It sat in the center of the family dining room table for decades. Veronica wanted the crystal bowl, because it would remind her of so many warm family memories they both enjoyed so long together.  And Veronica’s Mom promised it would be Veronica’s one day.  

After her Mom died, however, Veronica’s father innocently gave this coveted bowl to his neighbor, Terry, for the care she gave to Veronica’s Mom in her Mom’s last few months.  Veronica was deeply hurt and never again was able to speak to Terry.

One day, after some years passed, Veronica had an opportunity to explain to Terry the reason for her long, cold silence.  When she did, Terry understood, immediately placing the bowl in Veronica’s hands saying, “Please take it--as this bowl means more to you than it can ever mean to me."

Amazed and deeply moved, Veronica sadly thought, if she only had the courage to do this earlier, all the years of hurt and hard-hardheartedness toward Terry could have ended so much sooner.  Veronica had learned a lesson, which we can all grasp from Jesus' preaching of the Good News.  

Simply put, when others hurt us, if we point out what happened and how it affected us, we can avoid the lingering sting of pain.  Because once we realize the "why"-- the incident is often easily erased without needless suffering. And then,  we can all return to living what Jesus so passionately preached--Loving God, and loving neighbors.

Throughout His preaching, Jesus insisted that loving neighbor’s  is another way of loving God himself.  In fact he stated clearly: On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. 

 Jesus also understood that it’s easy to love a God we do not see,  and difficult to love neighbors who live close by. Living so near we find ourselves competing for and chasing after the same things,  as Veronica herself learned? --Whatever may be our  reasons loving our neighbors definitely has its shortcomings.

 Jesus recommends that in these difficult moments we choose mercy rather than rejection.  And when conflicts arise within our family, or with friends and acquaintances, He urges us to settle them hastily and considerately.

St. Francis de Sales adds these encouraging words:  wounds heal faster when treated quickly.  If God can heal our faults in this way, we can surely do the   same with our neighbors.  When we do, we can learn as Veronica did, it gives us more time to love.