Indescribable Hurt

I'm sure most of anyone reading this can relate to the topic. About 2 days ago, in about 5 mins. I felt so many different emotions that my head could have spun on it's axle (my neck). Seriously though, my heart dropped to my stomach, I lost my starving appetite, felt like throwing up, started to cry, then in about 1 min. or so I was angry...angry enough to fry an egg on my forehead probably! I know it may be hard to believe but I did put myself in the situation...yes, I set myself up good! I knew in the beginning I was playing with fire but at the time I was enjoying it. I had about 1 week of purely strange behavior. I was not myself at all! The best way I could & still can describe it was being an animal in the spring time! Yeah, that's probably a shock to most of you reading this but that's the plain & simple truth. Anyway, not to ramble...someone that I considered a really close friend hurt me...really hurt me...and on purpose!! What in the world?!?! It still puzzles me. I guess it would continue to do so but I have to remember that we live in a sinful world & in a very sinful time. I still don't feel that is a very good excuse but I have to forgive & try to forget. I did set myself up too...I could have stayed away from certain people & certain situations. I learned a lesson that really hurt but at the same time Jesus showed just how much He still loves me. Even when I do things that are not in-line with His will for my life, He still protects & shuts doors. He slammed these doors right in my face...even popped me in the nose a bit...but I'm thankful for His clarity on the situation. I'm thankful that things did not progress & endanger my faith or relationship with Jesus. If anything, it made me reach out all the more for Him!! So without going into needless details...that's a glimpse of my experience a couple of days ago. The next morning, I woke up thanking God for another day of life, another chance to fully reflect the character of Jesus to this fallen world. I'm going to keep trying anyway...I know as long as I get back up when I fall, I'm still in the "game" of life.
Someone very special to me emailed me this story that day. It was very encouraging...I even emailed it to that very person that hurt me. I'm not sure if I could behave the same, if I were in that situation but I know I need to keep my eyes on the example Jesus set for us...to love & forgive our sisters & brothers.

SAND AND STONE
TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.
THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.
THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH.
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.
AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE:
'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE '.
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'
THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT.
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.