Matters of the Heart: At SOME Point You Have to Use Your Brain

If there's anything I believe in with all my heart it is the concept of redemption. We ALL sin, make mistakes, mess up or whatever you want to call it. No one deserves a second chance. Did you hear me? I said NO ONE DESERVES a second chance, but the funny thing is the ONE Person Who is capable of forgiving forgives freely. Therefore, I don't have the right to not forgive. Forgiving is not an emotion. It is a decision. You can decide to forgive someone and feel zero manifestations of it, but eventually, if you've decided to do so, you will.

What does this have to do with matters of the heart? Plenty. But first, let's not forget the concept of fool me once, shame on you. Fool me TWICE, shame on ME!

Forgiving doesn't mean becoming one's door mat and letting people continue to abuse you, no!

In the "relationship" arena, (this expression cracks me up, because there are all kinds of relationships besides romantic or lustful ones) hopefully one learns. I am single. There are a lot of reasons for that.

1. If someone is giving out "samples" eventually they will run out of them. Who's to know how low the supply is running out? How few are left. How many other guys (girls) has this person given a "sample" to.

2. If someone tells you they are damaged goods believe them. Beyond that, it's your choice but be ware...You can try to convince them of redemption, but if they feel they have a right not to forgive someone in their former "relationship" they are not capable of being at square one with you and it will be totally unfair. You will probably wind up hurt. Now, if you know redemption and live it before them and are patient enough, they may catch on, but God will not violate the will of a person. Hear me, He will NOT make someone trust you who is in this condition. He WILL NOT MAKE THEM LOVE YOU, no matter how you pray. PERIOD.

3. No one can make you hate someone. It, too, is a decision. Choose not to. This may require a little distance between you and the one you are tempted to hate.

4. Being single is not the end of the world. You may be misunderstood as a horn toad, or a number of other things but you can function without a "help meet." That doesn't mean it's all that fun, but you DO have the freedom to flirt. Do it, too much, and you'll be categorized by some, but you know what? Those people don't count!