Did you get your feelings hurt at Christmas? Was an expectation unmet? Did someone let you down? Did someone not treat your kid or grandkid how you wish they had?

Gathering with others just seems to present all kinds of opportunities for hurts to happen.

Are you still thinking about it? Is it starting to fester, and perhaps, grow?

What can you do?

As I struggled through such a thing early one morning, God reminded me of all the gifts I had wrapped. And before I knew it, I was imagining myself putting that hurt in a box like a gift. I cut paper, taped up the sides and placed a bow on top, then, I imagined myself handing that hurt to God.

I know God is asking me again to give Him my hurts and forgive those who have hurt me. What’s more is I know God is asking me to forgive those who have hurt those I love (which is often even harder, isn’t it moms? 😳).

The thing is, I know we can trust God with it all.

Maybe, He will have me prayerfully go to the person who caused the hurt, or maybe God will have me leave that hurt forever with Him.

Oh, I may remember it from time to time—but I’ll also remember that I wrapped it up and gave it to Him.

Perhaps, instead of turning into more trouble on this earth, by giving God my hurt, I can store up some treasure in Heaven; perhaps by overlooking an offense my hurt might turn into a glorious crown that I can cast at His feet one day (Prov 19:11, Rev 4:10-11).

I don’t know, but I know this— I can cast my cares on Him (1 Pet 5:7), I can leave my hurt in His Trustworthy Hands.

This is just one more way, I can trust God more than I trust me by forgiving others as I remember (again and again) how He has forgiven me (Eph 4:32).

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