A neat thing happened to us here this past week. Several weeks ago we got one of those letters that we all dread from the IRS. They said that, based on our 2009 tax return, and the way it was reported, we still owed a few thousand dollars. If we had any other information to give them that would challenge this ruling (probably by a computer not a person), please send it in, which we did. So this week we got another letter saying that, based on the new information that we supplied, there was no new tax owed. The letter even thanked us for providing this so they could clear it up.
Now when I got the first letter, and even as I sent the new info back to them, I was a little cynical. Sure, I said, they will still try to get some blood out of this turnip, and we will have to fight with them again and again. I tend to go back to that old phrase that describes relationship with people from Washington, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you".
Chambers describes the relationship Jesus had with people with this: "Our Lord trusted no man, yet He was never suspicious, never bitter."
People we trust that disappoint us can make us cynical. We can decide never to trust anyone, but it is hard to live that way. We want to see the best in others, and can be disillusioned over and over again.
Jesus knew the heart of mankind. He knew what was in man's nature and what things he stored in his heart. He knew us and still loved us. Only he could do that.
I am apt to give up on people, to say that they will never change, so I will just let them go. That is not Jesus' way. I also want to trust people in life's situations, trust in the fact that they will indeed do what they say, but I also go by the rule "that you can disappoint me once, shame on you, disappoint me twice, shame on me".
The only Person I can fully trust is Jesus, but I can't let disillusionment with others make me so cynical that I am no good to anyone. I don't really want to be an old man, but I sure don't want to be a bitter old man.
God help me to keep my trust where is belongs.
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