Wednesday, December 23, 2015

December 23: Writing Prompt #357-The Guilt That Haunts Me

Share a time when you were overcome with guilt.

I don’t know that there’s one particular time I have felt overcome with guilt over a single action or word, but there’s been more times than I can count that I felt guilt over a bad decision, even a right decision that I knew would hurt others, or a sharp word to another that never should have been spoken.  The problem with guilt is that it’s useless, and it can cause you to make more subsequent decisions that are harmful to others because you are not acting out of their best interests, but rather your own guilt.  For example, spoiling your children because you feel guilt over divorcing their mom or dad.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to feel remorse for our mistakes, but to drown in that guilt or allow it to affect the way you respond to family and friends is not okay. Guilt is good in that it starts us on the process to reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing, but you have to let it move you forward to being a better you, not keep you down or pull you out of the world and living life to the fullest.  So, yes, there have been times I have felt the weight of guilt on my heart and mind, but once I feel this, I know it’s time to figure out how to fix it, to make it right (or at least as right as it can be) and learn from it, not carry it around like a bag full of rocks.  Maybe that’s why there’s not one particular moment of guilt that sticks out for me because my faith taught me long ago how to ask forgiveness, let go, and work on being better for next time.  After all, He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be…..

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