Resentment

I have been thinking a lot recently about resentment, because I realise how easy it is to get resentful over little things and then you end up getting stressed and bitter 'cos it goes round and round in your head and so out of proportion that you are ready to kill the person who left the kettle empty (or whatever minor issue it was).

Getting resentful means you can't pray or worship 'cos you keep thinking about how you have been wronged. It totally robs you of any sense of God and once you get resentful about one thing its generally not too long before Everything and Everyone is acting only to upset you.

On Sunday morning all the pondering got knocked into shape with a quote from John 3v30 (RSV)
This refers to when Jesus came to John to be baptised, which signalled the end of John's ministry and the beginning of Jesus'. John knew his role was to announce the coming of the Messiah, and when he saw Jesus and recognised him as the Messiah, John was prepared to see his mission had been accomplished and step aside.

So... what has that got to do with petty irritations and resentments?

Basically, if I am being petty and resentful then I am thinking I am bigger than I really am; that I am more important than those around me- which I am not; that everyone else should be thinking of me and my needs and wants- which of course they don't.

This is a prayer of Mother Teresa about it all:

Deliver me, O Jesus

From the desire of being loved
From the desire of being extolled
From the desire of being honoured
From the desire of being praised
From the desire of being preferred
From the desire of being consulted
From the desire of being approved
From the desire of being popular.

From the fear of being humiliated
From the fear of being despised
From the fear of suffering rebukes
From the fear of being slandered
From the fear of being forgotten
From the fear of being wronged
From the fear of being ridiculed
From the fear of being suspected.

And, Jesus, grant me the peace
To desire that others might be more loved than I
That others might be more esteemed than I
That in the opinion of the world
Others may increase and I may decrease
That others may be chosen and I set aside
That others may be preferred to me in everything
That others may become holier than I
Provided I become as holy as I should.

She knew the dangers of getting too self important, and the beauty of Godly humility

Does that mean we should all lie down and get walked over? Not at all. But that's another topic!