Love is patient, love is kind…

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

…It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.   1Cor 13:4-7

Resentment:  a feeling of indignant displeasure, annoyance, or persistent ill will

at something regarded as a wrong, insult or injury     syn. offense

Contentment:  the state of feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status or situation

Love Keeps NO Record of Wrongs

Recently, while I was fuming – anger welling, darkness glooming,

So gently God said, “Child, we better talk.”

“You see there’s simply no denying, this offense you’re justifying,”

“It’s creating quite a roadblock in your walk.”

Then the Holy Spirit pointed, to a Scripture most anointed,

It states: love keeps,  NO record of the wrongs!

There are times I need reminding, I get busy with fault finding,

And my heart would soon forget where it belongs.

Well, I responded by resisting, for I needed no assisting,

I was relishing the anger and resentment.

So deceived was I, you see – that I’d let Satan steal from me,

All the precious peace, and joy, and the contentment.

My mind continually rehearsing, each rejection, slight and cursing.

I know them, like I know my favorite song.

 I don’t recall a single blessing, when I’m fuming and distressing,

And busily recording every wrong.

Sadly my list was ever growing, it was filled to overflowing,

It was pitiful, the bitterness embraced.

God has a better plan for me, He longs to see the captives free!

The ‘record of the wrongs,’ must be erased.

“But it’s so hard to let them go!” Then He smiled, “Yes, child, I know.”

“Yet Scriptures are in place, that you would heed them.”

So now, to lay down each offense, allow God’s healing to commence.

 These wrongs that I’m recording? I don’t need them.

Erasing’s harder than you’d think, it seems I’ve written some in ink,

But the Savior’s love engulfs me like a flood –

For it is only by His grace, that the ones I can’t erase,

Are the very ones, He covers with His blood.

Yes, He has better plans for me, He would have the blinded see,

He’d take me out of darkness, into light.

I can’t do it on my own, but only by His strength alone…

The Father’s love, His power, and His might.

He knows I struggle with forgiveness, and this whole resentment business,

If the ‘wrongs,’  I once again begin to picture…

In case there’s some that I have missed, or if I start another list,

The Holy Spirit will remind me of the Scripture.

I’ll seek to follow His command, keep the eraser close at hand,

When the enemy comes offering resentment.

Each blessing I will name, His gracious promises to claim –

I will LOVE, then I will know peace and contentment.

Received by Cheryl Winchester

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you,

so you must love one another.” Jn 13:34   Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col 3:13

If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? Psalm 130:3

Author’s note:
You might guess by the title of this poem, I was emerging from a bout of resentment in which I rather enjoyed revisiting my "record of wrongs.” And I should mention that I am exceptionally skilled at recording them. The poem emerged with me from that round of “processing.” I will commemorate the experience
with the purchase of a special eraser to be placed on my desk, in plain view, and close at hand,
for the next time I fall for the temptation to become a “recording artist.”

Trying to find the humor in it...  Probably the next poem…

In rebellion I'm scheming, I'm kicking and screaming,   but one can’t avoid His detecting.
I am met in my mess, and as you can guess,   in the furnace I go, for perfecting.
You’d think I would learn, there is freedom to earn,   by heeding advice – not rejecting.
The next time around, may my judgment be sound,   let it be the Lord, I’m reflecting.

Accountability 101:    I love my husband, AND his job. J
I am mightily blessed,  AND busy “recording” those blessings.  J