Choose Not To Be Bitter

 

“’Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.'” Ruth 1:20 

   When I was a boy, along with my grandmother, I would visit an older couple in her neighborhood. The elderly woman was one of the sweetest ladies I had ever met, she was always kind and generous, thoughtful, and nice. On the other hand, her husband was one of the grumpiest, grouchiest, meanest, and most bitter people I ever met. 

  Some years later, the dear neighbor lady died. I could not help but think the old bitter man would never have any visitors, no one would want to be around him. But then there was a change in him; he too must have realized his bitterness would guarantee him a lonely life, so over time he changed. He became one of the friendliest people I ever met, always going out of his way to be friendly to passersby. He traded his bitterness for a better personality. 

  Affliction can make us bitter. I think the “natural” course of suffering and pain is to become bitter in our misery. It seems to go against common sense to become better in our harsh circumstances, to be cheerful in our misery. How do we find our way from bitterness to a better attitude? 

  I think if we depended upon our own strength, we would have much difficulty turning our bitterness into a better life. We need help and power from above. Our own talents and abilities are not enough to endure suffering and remain free of bitterness. Yet by calling upon God, asking for the joy of the Lord, for peace and courage in our difficulties, we can leave bitterness behind. 

  I know how easy it is to become bitter when hardship strikes, but bitterness leaves us nothing, and it steals our joy and hope. We need power from above to turn from bitterness, to smile, love, hope, and spread joy in spite of circumstances that could make us bitter, let us be better instead of bitter. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to be better and not bitter, gives us the joy that makes us strong in spite of our weakness. Amen.