Splinters
Splinters are a big part of life here at the farm. We are always out in the garden working here. From when the sun brilliantly peeks over the horizon in the morning and greets us for a long day to the last rays shining through the trees as the night fades to black and we all come back home to sit around the table and enjoy a meal together at night.
From the rough handles of rakes, shovels, picks, hoes, and the beloved wheelbarrow they are all culprits of doing a number on unsuspecting hands and fingers. Big ones, small ones, the ones you don’t realize you have at all until several days later when you hit it on something, and BAM! The pain! It is swollen, and red, and on the way to a big infection and needs to be dealt with now. Don’t let it stay but take care of it today before it like bitterness in the heart takes root and festers.
Splinters And Children
Ah, the splinters of childhood are the worst nightmare of any parent of dear children who love to run barefoot across the yard. That would be me! I’ve had my fair share of them, if you haven’t gathered it yet I was the little gypsy that ran around outdoors with my mom and twin barefoot and loving every minute of it- well almost every minute right up until I stepped on a dreaded stick. There was more than one night that ended with mom pulling that splinter of wood out of my foot. It hurt a lot, but once it was out it always felt better.
But what if I had hidden it? Ignored the pain and let the problem grow and grow? What would happen? It could go from a small hurt to a terrible infection that could put my health in danger and possibly my life.
Splinters And Bitterness
Have you ever stopped to think about how much bitterness is kind of like splinters?
As long as you hold on to it, it’s going to hurt you. The root of bitterness can be very small and at first, you may barely even notice it is there. It can be something that made you angry with someone. A hurt feeling. An offense was taken and held onto. But that tiny splinter won’t stay tiny long. It’s going to fester and spread and make you miserable. If you continue to hold onto it, you’ll make those around you miserable too and life as you know it could be lost to you. Your marriage, your children, your siblings. But once you let it go, you are free to heal (and walk barefoot again) and be whole again.
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Let’s Look At Bitterness In The Bible
The Bible has a lot to say about bitterness, let’s take a look at some Bible verses about bitterness and try to find the hard of God on the subject:
- Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Ephesians 4:31-32 CEV
- Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone* who sins against me? Seven times? ”No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! Matthew 18: 21-22 CEV
In other words, through these Bible verses about bitterness, we can learn that God wants us to keep forgiving!
- Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 CEV
- Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31
- Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
- Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22
- Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47
- I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
- A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him. Proverbs 17:25
- The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10
- Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
- While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good. Job 21:25
- And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her. Ecclesiastes 7:26
- A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet. Proverbs 27:7
- “I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Job 10:1
- But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Proverbs 5:4
- But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. James 3:14
- For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” Acts 8:23
- When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, Psalm 73:21
- She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Ruth 1:20
- Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Colossians 3:19
- “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; Romans 3:14
Before you go, check out these other articles:
- The Story Of Naomi From The Bible
- What We Can Learn From Naomi In The Bible When We Feel Empty
- Lessons From The Farm – Find Your Spot And Bloom
- Lessons From The Farm | Grass Is Greener
- Waiting On The Lord | Lessons From The Farm
- Lessons From The Farm | Importance Of Pruning
- Lessons From The Farm | Poison Ivy
- Lessons From The Farm | Need To Fertilize
- Lessons From The Farm | Weeds