Feelings are fragile things

Today I got my feelings hurt and I hurt someone elses all within a few minutes time... I have been thinking ever since how fragile feelings can be and why that is. I have a few random thoughts that I want to free write about and see if it helps me sort anything out! :)

Feelings usually seem to form around expectations. Expectations of how we think things should go, how people should act, what will take place at an event, what should be the reward for our actions, etc. When those expectations are not met we feel disappointed, mad, frustrated, injured, sad, and other negative emotions. When expectations are are exceeded we are elated, happy, ecstatic, and giddy. And when expectations come in on par with what we had planed we are simply satisfied... Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't have expectations? In all reality probably not. if you were going to a concert and said you didn't have any expectations you in all reality just have very low expectations. Thus if the concert is a bore then you still leave satisfied that you judged accurately. If the concert was amazing then you leave extremely pleased because your expectations were not hard to overcome....

This is an interesting concept to think about. If you have low expectations of other people is that a bad thing? If you truly don't have any expectations then people will never hurt you... However, what about the saying "treat a man like the man he ought to be and he will become that man"? Or what about self fulfilling prophecy? Would that encourage our society to be more beligerant and proper conduct would decompose?

Another thought I had was that maybe feelings and expectations are related to the grand daddy of sin's... Pride. Are failed expectations manifestations of pride in that we would have handled the situation differently and our wanting to be acknowledged for superiority? I often have felt like it was my duty to teach the offending party how I would have handled it... thinking that if everyone had half the sense I did then the world would be a great place! No doubt others have felt the same about my actions as they have felt the need to correct me. So when I get my feelings hurt is it really my pride and confidence that I think I would have handled something differently?

Even if neither of these theories hold water... it seems to me wise to learn to be humble enough to have expectations of people, events, and situations. But to recognize our own short-comings and choose to not be offended or hurt by other peoples actions. After this brain dump I have concluded that humility for me is the antidote for fragile feelings.

The Power of a Child's Prayer

During church this last week I had an interesting truth revealed to me. The speaker recounted a story about his son. You see the couple had difficulties having children. After trying for their third child for 3 years they were very discouraged. One day their 5 year old son, sitting on his mothers lap, asked, “Mom, when will you have another baby?”

She smiled and replied, “When God allows me to.”

The young boy then asked, “Can we ask Heavenly Father about it?”

“Of course we can.” Thinking that they would include it in family prayers that evening she was surprised when he immediately bowed his head and started saying a silent prayer. A few moments later he lifted his head and told his mother that she would have a child when he was 7 years old. Just as he prophesied it came to pass.

The revelation here for me was one of humility and faith. You see God has counseled us to become as little children.

1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18: 1-4)

One of the most important characteristics of a child is their humility. Think about it… Children recognize their dependence on others. They know that they need to “ask” to “receive”. A child knows that without his parents help he is helpless. Thus a Child asks in faith and hope for those things which he or she needs.

Sometimes a parent will not give a child all of their want’s and whimsical requests. But surely when it comes to important matters a parent immediately responds to a child’s needs and desires.

9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give athe Holy Spirit to them that
ask him? (Luke 11:9-13)

Add to that James 1:3-5

3. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
4. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
5. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Imagine what our prayers would be like if we knew that we couldn’t do things alone… Images of Christ praying to the father flood my mind. I imagine him in the Garden of Gethsemane praying for strength and desire to fulfill the will of the Father. Imagine what it would mean to our relationship with God if we prayed to him with humility.

Truly a childs prayers have power because of the simple humility and faith with which they ask…