True Confessions Week 2

Week two went fairly well. It was a smaller group, and no one-on-one. It was a good discussion about anger, forgiveness, and purpose.

We talked about how it seems like a natural reaction for Jesus to have been angry when he was being taunted and mocked when he was crucified and how he was still merciful and forgiving to the criminal that was repentant next to him and gave him eternal life. We also talked about how Mary, Jesus' mother, must have felt. One point that made me think was that she knew from the very beginning when she conceived Jesus that she had a purpose and focused on that throughout the time He was on this earth. How difficult it must have been to watch what hap pended to him on the cross, and how God must have prepared her for that. God has a purpose for each of us in the same way.

The thing I find difficult about these type of group studies, and this is kind of a big admission on my part, I got thothin'. You see, I struggle with the fact that I don't have a juicy story about how I came to know the Lord or all the sadness and heartache that I have gone through in my life. What can I possibly share that would make anyone think, "Wow, she has such a great story of her journey, I want to listen to her." I spend time feeling slightly guilty about that and kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop and things to go all kinds of bad. I don't know why up to this point God has spared me from anything very traumatic and painful. The funny thing about having time now that the kids are away and busy and adults is that I can actually think. So my mind spins all these thoughts around and around.

I had no urges to laugh this week even though I sat right next to Esmerelda. I am loving this sweet older woman who has pearls of wisdom and has actually been through a lot in her life. She will be sharing her journey in a few weeks at our Bible study, I am looking forward to it. One other woman made the comment when we were talking about anger that a good gauge of how you feel about someone you may have had an issue with in the past is how would you feel if you came face to face with them in a room. Makes you think, huh?