THOSE FUTILE GRUDGES (AND AREN’T THEY ALL?)

When Jim and I first moved to this area, we noticed a sign posted on a lawn along the main street of our new town. We couldn’t read all the words as we drove by, but we gathered that these folks were angry because something had been stolen from their property. Eventually the sign was removed, but it was replaced by an electronic messaging board mounted to the side of their house. Angry and accusatory messages have continued to stream across it for several years now.

I don’t know these neighbors or their full story, but their long-held grudge and sign seem futile and even silly to me. The sign can’t be readily seen by any passing vehicles, so it mostly serves as a constant, negative reminder for the people who live there. Since nothing has been resolved after all this time, whomever this sign is targeting must be unphased (and perhaps even amused) by the angry words scrolling across the screen. The neighbors’ anger may be justified, but the grudge they carry probably burdens them more than the initial injustice, hurts them more than those who are being accused.

Our anger can be righteous and healthy when it prompts us to act for justice, resolve problems, restore broken relationships, or defend ourselves and others from harm. But if we let our anger simmer into a resentment or grudge, it serves no purpose for good and will only weigh us down (and often, no one else).

As always, this story holds lessons for me. When has my anger become a grudge instead of a good? Today I hope to be more mindful of using my anger for its better purposes. May I seek to turn my frustration into helpful action, my irritation into genuine communication, my inner hurt into gracious forgiveness. May I not continue to complain, whine, resent, or begrudge, but instead, begin to work toward a better answer, a peaceful resolution.

May I also learn to take whatever is left unresolved and entrust it to God.

Giving up the grudge…
Lovingly letting go…
And fully feeling the freedom.

(Photo by Karen, who took a long walk to read the sign. 😏)