Tim and Tina Chat(6)
Tim and Tina Chat(6)
Banning Bad Baggage(Letting
Go of the Past) (I)
(Tim and Tina are
sitting in the Love Garden, University of Ibadan.)
TINA:Tim Timo,
how are you doing? What's wrong? Are you fine?😦
TIM:There is this
situation I got involved in. I have promised myself that I would stop. Aargh...(Puts
his hands on his head) I don't just understand what has been coming over me.
My friends told me that it's a surefire way to kill the pain. I haven't been
thinking straight, Tina. This thing is killing me...😔
TINA:Come on! You
look so haggard and pale!😱 You've really agonised over this issue.(Puts her chin in her hand) I remember
when I struggled with masturbation all because my stupid uncle molested me when
I was younger.(Tears gather in her eyes.)
He awakened my sexual desire too early...
TIM:(A long silence)Tina, i-i-i-t's drug
addiction. It is really messing with me. I keep making resolutions to quit everyday.
I don't even know how or if I would get over it.😢
TINA:Hmm. I think
you are using the dras to suppress the feelings of worthlessness that your Dad stirred
up in you. Tim, what will we do?😟
TIM:I have no
idea, Tina. I feel like I am sitting on a giant wall. I am so confused! And
even if I am freed from this addiction now, do you think I will be forever free?
I doubt it!
TINA:I heard that
an addict is never totally free from his addiction. Even sef, I still feel very
ashamed and dirty when I remember that I masturbated in the past. I think the
past always steals the joy of the present and the future.
TIM:But Tina, are
we supposed to be tied to the burdens of sin and shame for the rest of our lives?
Should our pasts haunt us forever?
TINA:The question
is, what do we do to discard the luggage from our pasts?
TIM: I don't
know...
AUNTY
GOODSENSE: Many of us-'good' people and 'bad' guys- have colourful
pasts. We've done stuff that the world must not hear about, right? We've got
both human and animal skeletons in our cupboards.
MOST UNFORTUNATELY,
WE'VE NOT FORGIVEN OURSELVES! OFTENTIMES, WE'VE SOUGHT GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND HE
HAS GIVEN US YET WE KEEP ON HOARDING THE GUILT.
Truth is, if you refuse to dump the
heaviness of your past, you'd remain a stagnant pool that gives off a very
terrible odour.
So,
1) Seek God's forgiveness for whatever it is that you did, believing
that He readily forgives and forgets. If you are still struggling with the
addiction, acknowledge that it is evil and ask God to help. No habit is
supposed to own you!!!
2) Make a conscious decision to forgive YOU! Also, forgive whoever triggered
it.
3)Open up to a trustworthy individual who ardently believes in Jesus'
grace. Sometimes, keeping silent chokes freedom.
4) Consciously flee from triggers of negative habits.
N.B- LEAVING THE PAST MAY NOT BE EASY!!! I HAVE BEEN THERE. I LEFT. OVERCOMING
AN ADDICTION IS EQUALLY NOT ALWAYS EASY. I HAVE BEEN THERE. I OVERCAME!
BE REALLY PATIENT AND HOLD ONTO GOD'S LOVE. HE LOVES THE SINNER BUT
HATES THE SIN!!!
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