The conversation turned awkward with the realization
that I hadn’t been included in the festivities
my friends were reminiscing about.

Not included.

 

Smiling faces beamed in the Facebook photos
of a wedding I wasn’t invited to.

Not invited.

 

The note read,
Your uncle died last month.
I’m so sorry,
we just forgot to let you know …

Not remembered.

 

What do you do when
you feel left out?

 

A variety of options pop into my head.

Hide.

Curl up in the fetal position and
suck my proverbial thumb till the hurt goes away …
till the next time or the next trigger reminds me
I’m not enough.

Pretend.

Post my own fun pictures,
Talk about my recent exploits.
Put on my happy face and say it doesn’t matter.
But it does, doesn’t it?

Retaliate.

Blast a nasty text or post with tags galore,
but that never goes well.
Even if I get some temporary relief or satisfaction,
inevitably,
a harsh response only causes more hurt
and often bigger regret.

Run.

I can run away, but I can rarely outrun the hurt.

Instead of running away … 

Run to a Godly friend who will
put you back on track
with words of wisdom and comfort or correction.

Or,

Run to God’s Word
where you’ll see many Biblical heroes and heroines
experiencing their own moments of hurt
yet sustained by God’s great love.

Better yet,

Run to God himself.
Cry out to him and wait for his peace to fall.
Listen for the
Holy Spirit to whisper to you …

You are loved and accepted by the ONE who made you.
You are always included.
You are never alone.
You are never forgotten.

It’s in the Presence of God that we can find the
grace,
humility
and courage to
Forgive and extend our heart to those who didn’t
invite us,
include us, or
remember us.

“God’s love isn’t based on me.
It’s simply placed on me.
And it’s the place from which I should live … loved.”
– Lysa Terkeurst, Author of Uninvited

Fix your thoughts on what is
true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely,and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—
everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
Phil. 4:8-9

Post inspired by Lysa Terkeurst’s book, “Uninvited”