Recently I was in a conversation with some friends. One of the parties involved was changing employment and wanted to "clear the air" before they left. It seems that over a few years this person heard portions of conversations or was told of conversations and assumed the negative instead of the possible positives.

I will be the first to admit that it is easier to listen and act upon the negative than the positive. But, why is that. We as Christians should be looking to lift up and help other Christians. Not holding negative emotions toward others. Yet only as a last resort will we approach the person "that offended us" to seek out an apology for that offense. I should mention at this point that not every time is it the other person that actually did any offense. In the above mentioned conversation the "offending party" says that they never said anything that could be taken as offensive much less as actually being offensive. Since I do not know, nor do I want to know, what was said I can not attest to the offensive nature of the statement.

The point of the matter is that we need to confront the issue not the person. Find out if what we thought was said is what actually was said. When we find out that it wasn't then we can restore the relationship with that other person. If it was said then find out why and attempt to restore the relationship.

To quote a line from a recent country music song from a singer here in East Tennessee:

"Lord, help me help my stupid self"