Satan's Attack

[Divides the Waters]

VS, I can sympathize with the struggles of one who has been wrongly accused of something. Nothing cuts to the quick of my temper more quickly than people misunderstanding or simply deciding (and declaring) something about my character that is simply not true. Maybe God has determined that I need to work on my reactions, because that happens more frequently than I think it should.

Remember Mark 6:4:

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."

I don't recall a lot of the people God used being particularly well-liked, popular, or understood, so I consider myself in good company.

[veritasseeker90]

God has a sense of humor.

I found out last night at work that I am well liked by several of the boys...too well liked.

Er-- I think I get your point now, God.

[jinn]

Very good words. My heart goes out to you, Veritas. Know that you do not stand alone. I only have a couple quotes to add to all this greatness:

"Sometimes, all it takes is a voice. One voice, that becomes a hundred, and then a thousand-- unless it's silenced."
~Newsies

"I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.'
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord...
for men are not cast off by the Lord forever.
Though he brings brief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.'
~Jeremiah 3

You are glorious, my sister.
~ Trigun

[Spokane Flyboy]

I know from experience that it came roll in what seems like cycles. Being single in my mid-twenties with no real changes since highschool — going on near a decade now — I've started to dread the holidays. I struggle with the longing and desire to settle down, the general feeling of worthlessness as the years tick on without so much as a mutual interest with a girl, and the questions from certain relatives that leave me trying to defend my sexual orientation. Most days I do fine, but the days when all three hit at the same time can be excruciating.

[Jeff Gerke]

I remember being in your situation, SF. The ironic thing about the sexual orientation question is that if I'd wanted to go that way I would've had plenty of dates. LOL.

Usually, the questions from relatives are actually coming from a place of love. Usually. They want to see you paired with someone nice because they know the joys that a good marriage can bring.

Jeff

[metalikhan]

"Usually" is the operative word here. It wasn't the case in my family. My folks were more worried I might drag our name through the family mud. They had a hard time wrapping their minds around the concept that after living with a Jekyll and Hyde dad, I wanted no part of dating or marriage.

God had different plans for all of us — dad eventually quit drinking, the violence stopped, and he became saved. My mom and sisters have had a long, hard road to recovery — and there are still challenges — but He's with them every step of the way. I was not seeking any companionship; but God placed Gregg in my life when I was 28. He became my best friend before we married and has remained so ever since -- 25 years as of April.