Let it Go.

♬ Let it GOOO, let it GOOOO, can't hold me back anyMOREEE! ♬ Today's post is all about... FROZEN! Just kidding. It's not about Frozen or anything related.

Speaking of Frozen, though, we finally got snow here the other day!! It's been so dreary and overcast the last few days, but the 3 hours worth of snow on the ground made it all worth it. (That's about as good as it's gonna get in the south.)

But in all seriousness, today's topic is a bit deeper than my normal posts. I've always been hesitant to post on heavier topics because I'm normally the peacemaker, but this isn't too heavy. It's quite a mess of words so bear with me, but I would love to hear your take on it in the comments! So, without further ado, I present:

Let it go.

It feels so good to get revenge, doesn't it? The one moment right after someone has offended or insulted you and you want nothing more than to get revenge on them. To make some amazing comeback. To make them feel as hurt as you do.

In that moment, it seems as if holding onto an offense or hurting someone else is the only way to make you feel good about yourself.

Okay, what??

It sounds ridiculous, right? I'm sure everyone can agree that in the moment, it feels good to get revenge. But, be honest with yourself, have you ever really been happy with that decision later? 'It made me so happy when I hurt them back. I love holding grudges,' said no one ever.

Recently, I've been praying to God to give me opportunities to learn patience and forgiveness. I'm terrible at both and, even though I'm a peacemaker, I have a thing for holding grudges, especially when it comes to my family. Sometimes the ones you love most are the easiest to hurt, and the easiest to be hurt by. But here's a life-changing tip I've learned:

Let it go.

Just let it go. It's that simple.

Ask yourself, what good is getting revenge going to do you? What satisfaction does holding a grudge give you? If you always end up regretting it, why keep doing it?

St. Paul writes,

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. - Romans 7:15-17

Letting it go is such a simple concept, yet it's so hard to actually do it. Sin tells me to hold onto it. That one offense.

But you want to know a secret?

I am always happy with my decision to let it go. But if letting it go makes me feel happy, and holding a grudge makes me unhappy (and regretful later), then why do I keep holding on? Why do I keep focusing on getting revenge? Why do I keep making the wrong decision?

Because wrong is easy.

It's easy to be mean. It's easy to hold a grudge. It's easy to want to get revenge on someone. Letting it go and displaying patience and maturity is hard. It takes effort. So when we muster up every bit of strength we can to let it go, that's where God's mercy truly radiates.

There's nothing quite so relieving as when you've done something to hurt your neighbor, and they show nothing but love and forgiveness in return.

So be that person.

Sometimes when my anger gets the better of me, I get frustrated with myself. I feel like I have to start my journey to salvation, to patience, to maturity all over again. But guess what?

We're humans. We are human beings. We can't be perfect.

Now that's not justifying being mean when you feel like it, but as long as we are trying our best, doing everything we can to be kind and show love at times when it feels impossible, that's where we truly see and feel God's presence.

We just have to put in effort. We can't just expect ourselves to gain maturity and patience over time. We have to work for it. It's the only way.

But remember that it's not going to happen overnight, and with the snap of a finger you won't have mastered forgiveness. That's not how it works. Throughout our whole lives, we will be working towards it. You and me together.

But the one thing you can do today to get you on the right path?

Let it go.