OUCH!

    I'm trying to spend time throughout my week reading entries in past journals. Today I was in 1991. It often makes me laugh or cry, mad or sad. Today I read about some conflicts with family members...immediate and extended. When I found an idea I believed at the time which was not true, I scribbled in big letters, "LIE!" It is sad to see how many lies I've believed over the years.
    The harder part was when I was confronted with truth by people, and it hurt so bad. When it was an extended family member or co-worker who spoke it, I was upset and vowed to avoid them for awhile. But when my children echoed the truth with: "She's right, Mom. That is how you are," my response then and even today was visceral. Ouch, that hurts.
    Truth often hurts. Then we have the opportunity to turn it around and use it as a tool for healing. Or we can deny, ignore, and blame, turning it into a bitterness that pushes everyone away. Ouch, even that truth stings a bit!