Let it go....

Just... let it go. This has been my personal mantra over the past couple months. I have ALWAYS been quite a vocal advocate for fairness. I can't exactly recall when I became so passionate about this concept. Was it when I got grounded as a teenager and couldn't go out on Halloween night because I failed to tell my parents that my little brother showed me that he had marijuana? Was it the fact that I felt my parents held me to a higher moral standard than my brothers just because I was a girl? Maybe it all began when I was unable to go to the amusement park with my classmates in junior high due to a near failing math grade which was the result of poor teaching in which the teacher was actually fired at the end of that year. In all of these cases, I remember saying...let me rephrase that...I remember shouting, THAT'S NOT FAIR!!

As an adult and especially as a single mom, I've had ample opportunities to rant about how unjust circumstances in life can be. And to be honest, I have let my emotions get the best of me on several occasions as I complained about the injustices of child support or my lack of social freedom or even about how different my body is now that I've had a child. I have struggled with this quest for fairness incessantly.

This 'eye for an eye' concept is surprisingly a biblical command. In Exodus 21: 23-25, God tells his people, the Israelites:

But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."

A most appealing principle, I have to admit. Especially if it were to apply to recent relationship and parenting situations I've been through lately. But as I read further, I realize that this rule was made before we were saved by God's grace. Still grasping at my need for fairness, I was finally brought to my senses as I read Romans 6:23 which clearly states,

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Living in a fair world equals death to us all; we'd all be on our way to eternal separation from God and light. This definitely puts justice into perspective. However, I am still compelled to ask how we put up with the people who are just plain selfish and out to take advantage of us on a regular basis. How do we deal with them?

With Christ living in us, we have the responsibility and are given the strength to obey his teachings by

'loving your enemies, doing good to those who hate you, blessing those who curse you, and praying for those who spitefully use you.' Luke 6: 27-28

After uncovering all of this, I have decided to retire my quest for fairness and instead teach my son about forgivness, love and how to just...let it go.

Mahatma Ghandi said it best when he stated that,

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

India.Arie ---NEW ALBUM---Check it out!!

Lately, I've been writing a lot about love, healing and being positive in my blogs. One point I made in a recent blog was to be aware of what you listen to on a regular basis; it affects how you think. Personally, I've made a point to listen to good, uplifting music throughout the day, and I've found that it's changed my entire mood.

I came across India.Arie's music several months ago and I can't stop listening to it. It's packed with powerful words of strength, healing, forgiveness and positivity. Her new album is coming out tomorrow and I encourage you to check it out!! She is most definitely using her singing ability to touch people's lives and bring them closer to God and I'm both uplifted and inspired by it. The words of hope and truth in her music have recently motivated me to use my own talent of writing to share my personal lessons in life and give words of encouragement. May we all be moved to use our talents in life to encourage and inspire the way India does through her music. :)