Friday, February 3, 2012

What Am I Doing About Bitterness?

It’s 4:30 am again, and I’ve been awaken yet again from my precious sleep for no apparent reason at all.  I confess to you that it’s in these early morning wake up times that I struggle most with anger and bitterness. 
As a child I attended Christian school.  It was there that I was “forced” to memorize Scripture.  I was required to memorize the entire book of Philippians, James, Hebrews 11, many passages in the Corinthians, Matthew, Ephesians, Psalms, Proverbs and Genesis.  God blessed me with an incredible mind, but I hated Bible memory.  It wasn’t that I hated God or His precious Word.  It was that I hated the actual act and exercise of memorizing. 
My parents sacrificed and invested a lot of money for me to go to Horseheads Christian Academy in Kindergarten through 2nd grade, Tioga Center Christian School halfway through 2nd-7th grades and then Ross Corners Christian Academy in 8th-12th grades.  Though I could brief you on several perceived "failures" of Christian schools, my Christian education is the single most valuable training I could have had including my Masters Degree in Accounting.  I cannot believe the amount of Scripture God has brought back to my mind.  This morning as bitterness crept up, the verse in Corinthians that says, “Take every thought captive” came to mind.  Often this verse is used for sins like lust.  But it has applied to me more for bitterness and blame. 
When a thought of direct anger at God appears, I challenge the thought.  I take it captive.  Is that thought from God or is the devil trying to defeat me in my own mind? If a though like, “Do You even exist? If You exist, how could you allow this to happen to my son?”  If a thought such as “If I would have just….he’d still be here,” comes to mind, I take it captive.  I know that my God is Holy.  Those thoughts are not Holy.  So I cast them from my mind.  I don’t have room in my temple for both good and bad thoughts.  Rather than leaving my mind empty for another bad thought to enter, I fill my mind with attributes of God.  I fill it with thoughts like God is love.  Jesus wants a relationship with me. I can cry “Abba.” The call of sharing with others about the Cross.  The gifts God gives to Christians.  His law written on my heart.  The fruit of the spirit.  I also fill my mind with edifying music, mainly for me lately it's been Chris Tomlin and Jeremy Camp.
I’m just a rookie at this grief stuff, but so far this strategy is working out for me.  May I give you a word of advice (or two words)? Memorize Scipture.  God will bring it back to mind in the most perfect and applicable way in both good and bad times throughout your life.  Thanks, Mom and Dad for my Christian education.  Thanks to my educators for investing your time to train me in the way I should go.

16 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for this blog! I wish every Christian going through or will go through a rough time of sorrow, etc. could read this. I am supporting you in prayer and wish I could do so much more!

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  2. You are truly amazing! I have told you this many times before all of this...and perhaps the timing is not the right time right now. YOU NEED TO WRITE A BOOK! You are very creative. Your words just flow. Maybe down the road you can work on this. Prayers constantly flowing to you and your family. Sally

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  3. I love you and our family...you are so strong and amazing...you are such an example of a true follower..I should be comforting you and yet your words are such an encouragement for me. Praying for you always.

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  4. Hello dearest Kerr family. I don't even know what to write. I just found your blog through "Just Another Day In Paradise." I just want to tell you that my heart breaks for your family. Losing a child is one of my biggest nightmares. And I can't pretend to even be able to imagine what you're going through right now, how your heart must be broken into a million pieces, but I want to tell you that I will be lifting you all up to our Heavenly Father in prayer. ~Amber

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  5. I've never met you, but want to thank you for sharing your story and your family. Your strength and love for God is both aspiring and encouraging. Many thoughts, Love, and prayers are coming to you and your family. Kimarie Gorsline shared your blog and I am so thankful for that. Your faith is infectious especially at this difficult time.

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  6. My "Morning with Carinda" was just the way to start my day!....I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing for me by sharing...I see someone else has already said it....YOU NEED TO WRITE A BOOK! You are so young yet so wise!...Dennis & I often sit in front of your parents on Sunday mornings...we call them the SWEET BREENS! ..... I don't want you to stop sharing...I am learning much!
    Love you all! Kathy Brewer (&Dennis Katie too!)

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  7. My heart breaks for you, we are praying daily for you. My womens bible study is praying for you!

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  8. Hi. I also heard about your family's pain via the "Another Day in Paradise" blog. We adopted our daughter from Ukraine in 2009 and she only had 17 months with our biological son before God called him to heaven. It was 8 months yesterday. From this side, I can tell you that God is carrying you. He is carrying your entire family and He will continue to do so. In the most painful moments, when you are blindsided by your grief, lean into Him. Lean into Him and trust... trust that all of God's promises are true and know that heaven is real. It is a place... a wonderful place where your son lives.

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  9. I am a friend of the Kellets and I just wanted you to know that I'm praying. It is so true that memorized Scripture comes flowing back in time likes these. I lost my mother from cancer when she was 48...not nearly as hard as losing a child, but it was still God's Word that comforted...especially in the middle of the night. Psalm 139 is one of my favorites.

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  10. When I first heard about your family through Melissa Carswell (my blog friend) my heart was in unimaginable pain for your family. As I read your blog and tears came down my cheeks I invested in prayer for you. It hurt my heart. Then I read my friend Becky Desellier's post and found that she goes to your church. Becky was my friend growing up (actually my sisters friend). I told her that I was praying....and Becky tells me that when I had my son Trenton at 28 weeks and his brain was bleeding that you were lifting ME up in prayer. I count it an honor and blessing to pray for you, a family that I do not know, and return that kindness that you did for me 19 months ago. It blessed me in a way that you will never know. I wanted to share that with you to allow you another moment of knowing that God DOES know and care even about tiny details. It floored me. The Christian family is so special and so divine. There are no words. I hope that this is an encouragement to you today.

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  11. Carinda, I have been looking at all your blogs and sitting here crying with you. I just came across this song this morning and had you in mind as I listened. It's not too deep, not too complicated, but appropriate for the situation. If you have time, check it out and fill your mind with these truths from Scripture. Hillsong-A Beautiful Exchange-Forever Reign.

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  12. Dear Carinda Ken and I have been reading and praying for each of you we are just a few miles apart, I want to tell you how much we have loved and enjoy knowing you all back in Fla, God has blessed you with this short time with you son ,But God is blessing even more now May these next few day.weeeks,months be sweet for you as time goes on how strong you all are ! Christ is near as you know1 You are touching so many people and their life you never know ! God bless you all , Helen/Ken

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  13. Again, thank you for sharing your amazing faith with us! Thank you for advice in the midst of your toughest life trial yet! I will always remember this...I do draw on lessons like this when I need them. Still praying for you all!
    Lindsay N.

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  14. I'm from panama, supporting you in prayer this time! Jacinto

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  15. we just prayed for you and we hurt with you

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  16. What a powerful testimony for Christian schools. Thank God for parents that made it possible for you to attend. You are thought of, prayed for and honored for your committment to the Lord and Savior. God is always with us even during the most imaginable trial but when we can't see his footprints it is because he is carrying us. May God comfort you and your family during the loss of your precious son Brandon.

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