WOW- did you see the news this weekend about the dentist in Poland? It seems the thirty-four year old DDS got dumped by her boyfriend for a new lady. Several days after the breakup, the ex goes into his ex, also his dentist, for a toothache problem. She puts him to sleep...........and pulls every tooth in his mouth! She has been arrested and the new girlfriend decided she did not want to be with a toothless beau so she cut him loose. The dentist is in jail, facing a three year prison sentence, and will undoubtedly never be able to practice again. The man has no teeth and no love. What a sad story. Who knows, the guy may have been a jerk but when she let her anger get away, she set back both lives. He's disfigured at least to some extent. Think it will hurt his employment chances or interfere with finding another soul mate as well as health complications? She threw her professional career out the window over a guy she probably despises now.
We talked in my Gospels' classes last week how to handle a situation when a brother/sister sins against you and we used the words of Jesus from Matthew 18 as our guide. These are the steps the Savior gives us:
1. Go to them privately.
2. If that doesn't solve the issue, take witnesses.
3. If that doesn't solve the issue either, tell the church.
4. If they won't listen to the church, treat them like a pagan or tax collector, i.e, have nothing to do with them.
I make several points here. These principles are for those we are connected to in the Lord. I also make sure they understand Jesus did not say, if someone hurts your feelings. It must be something that is substantial and the steps are in order. I know the dentist/ex boyfriend was not a religious matter but by taking Jesus' steps, time elapses and we can cool off which often is all it takes to defuse a touchy situation. People we love arouse anger in us at times much more intense than casual acquaintances. When we deal with the hurt without a plan and more more importantly, without prayer, disaster may lurk. At times, I might end here with some amusing comment but it just seems inappropriate today. Anger maims.
APPLICABLE QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than
the injury that provokes it."
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
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1 comment:
I love that quote, its so true.
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