Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: TEARS - (as in crying) (10/04/04)
TITLE: IT’S MY PARTY, AND I’LL CRY IF I WANT TO By Zillah Williams 10/08/04 |
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It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
Most of us will have experienced, if not that particular form of betrayal, something else which had equal power to devastate us.
Once, when I was the Vice-President of a small community organisation, something was done which I knew to be wrong. Quite correctly, in my view, I followed up the matter and sorted it out, but instead of being commended, someone proposed a motion at the next Committee Meeting which had the effect of censuring me for my actions and of supporting the person who had made the mistake! Not one Committee member took my part, and the motion was passed. To say that I felt hurt and humiliated is an understatement. I sat through the remainder of that meeting crying inside.
A sleepless night followed, and the next day I felt quite ill. Later, two people who were there told me that they thought I had done the right thing! As the saying goes, "Now they tell me"!
I resigned from my position as Vice-President. Had I wanted to, (and boy, did I ever want to!) I could have caused quite a stir within the organisation over what had happened. Trusted friends advised me against that course of action, and I took their advice.
Jim Glennon, when stressing the importance of forgiveness in his book, "Your Healing Is Within You" says that, "the devil of unforgiveness … is that it is so often justified". In other words, we must forgive even when we are right and the one who has hurt us is in the wrong. Strong words, but oh, so important. Our very salvation and our healing, depend upon our exercising forgiveness.
"It’s my party, and I’ll cry if I want to!" The lyrics wouldn’t sound half as catchy if changed to, "It’s my party, and I’ll forgive if I want to"! Such a sentiment wouldn’t have attracted the sympathy of the party-goers, but might have earned their respect, and would surely have resulted in a happier outcome, in the long run, for the birthday girl.
423 words
© Zillah Williams.