When we give something to someone, we hold our hand out and our hand is open. “It’s a gift, here, take it.” And it is the same when we accept something from someone. “A gift for me? Thank you.”
On the other hand when we want to keep something, we hold it tight in our fist. “You can’t have it, it’s mine!” and we hold it close to our body.
It is also interesting to see that when we are angry at someone, we hold our hands in a fist, holding on to our anger toward that person, holding it close to our body knowing just how difficult it is to even open our fist while the anger persists. But when we love or accept, we hold our hand out, open, to shake hands, give and accept a hug, and to welcome the other in. In praising God, many hold their open palms up to the Lord. Many do not do this for a variety of reasons. I do not hold my palms up to the Lord; however, as I pray with my eyes closed, in my heart and mind, I raise my arms high in praise. For me, it is denominational. I was raised as an Episcopalian in a very formal church.
God’s love is so great for us that He has given us choice. And among those choices we can choose to hold tight to the various situations we encounter, or we can release them to the Lord. We can hold on to our present situation or accept another. Sometimes these choices we make are physical, other times they are mentally. The choice I had in my last post when God told me “Don’t bother, you won’t be here”, was to accept the Lords decision to ‘go home’, to argue for personal gain or to argue for a less selfish reason. I chose to argue for my life because of my children and their faith.
Moses had a choice to accept the gift from God of prosperity, notoriety, and power, or the less selfish reason of saving the lives of the very people who doubted Him (God). "Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people." (Exodus 32:12b) Even Jesus had a choice, to accept the temptations of Satan, or the less selfish way that led Him to the cross. "9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." (Matthew 4:10)
Jesus opened His arms and hands to give us life.
Jesus opened His arms and hands to give us life.
A choice that we have all encountered at one time or another is the decision to forgive or not.
Back in the 1970’s I was in an abusive relationship for a couple of years and after I was able to get away from this, I heard some years later that he had been killed in a bar fight. It would be another couple of years before my decision would be made.
I was driving home after work one day (a 40 mile ride one way) when I felt my abusers presence sitting in the car with me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not shake the feeling. I saw him (with my mind’s eye) sitting as a beat man, head down, hunched back, hands in his lap. He seemed small and remorseful. I tried everything I could possibly think of to rid myself of this image without success before finally, out of frustration, shouted “WHAT, WHAT do you want!!” my hand wrapping tighter around the steering wheel with a death grip. I felt him look grimly at me as he said “Your forgiveness”. This hit me hard and I stopped the car and began shouting. I yelled and yelled, all the while feeling him accepting all that I gave him. Finally, I stopped and took a breath before saying “Fine, I forgive you.” And he faded away. I have not felt his presents since.
God gave me the choice. I could have chosen to hold tight to my anger, with both fists raised high or I could choose to forgive and release this man from his debt to me. The Lord would prefer me to forgive, of course, but the choice was wholly mine. For many years I held onto the hurt before I was given this choice and I could have chosen to keep my fists closed tight but I chose to let go.
God’s love for us is so great that when we have a choice to make, He will be with us as we make it and He will accept our decision without repercussions on His side, other than the natural consequences of our actions. This is the same as a loving parent will allow their child a choice without repercussions from them, only the natural consequences of their actions. Open hands are open to the love of Christ, tight fists closes us off from that love.
Thank you dear Friend and Father.
Amen
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