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I have strived to live a life of assuming the best and having to be convinced of the worse.  Some have even accused me of being naive.  Maybe it’s that I haven’t wanted to believe that anyone would treat another person purposely with ill intent.

Its funny how things said to you years ago, will crop up in the midst of an experience.  Years ago, I was sharing a “thorn in my side” experience with a co-worker.  I was so upset sharing the circumstances with her; I remember crying out many of the sentences.  As a matter of fact, I had gotten to “the ugly cry.”  Right in the middle of my trying to catch my breath, to cry some more, she handed me a tissue and said, “Dry your eyes honey, that that they sow, they shall also reap; and you know what, it doesn’t always come back the way you may think.”

During a recent counseling session with one of my out-of-state clients, I was reminded of that time in my life.  It’s amazing how your testimony of the things that you have overcome is just what the doctor ordered in helping someone else.  Because of the “thorn in my side” experience I survived many years ago, I could identify with what this young woman was sharing with me.  Not only did I get what she shared intellectually, but I got it experientially.  It was almost as if I had stepped back in time.  The only difference was that my story at this point had played out.  The very painful manipulation that I was forced to endure, had now shown up in the life of the person that made me so miserable some 20 years later.

In my early twenties, I’m not sure I really understood the whole concept of sowing and reaping.  I suppose I understood the general premise, however, I’m not sure I’d lived enough experience to really get it.   I remember telling that co-worker, “I don’t know how they continue to get away with manipulating me and others and just keep coming out on top.”

Well, as someone once said, “just keep living and you will see all you need to know.”  How true that statement was.   As usual, even if someone had not shared with me, the scripture makes it clear.  Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sow, that will he also reap.

It is easy to work to gain something unfairly or manipulate something by your own hands.  You find it in every walk of life.  As a matter of fact, if you are not careful, some of the ‘get ahead’ messaging, in the wrong hands could be justified mistakenly.  You see it in relationships with people seeking to take, and never think about giving, you see it in our churches with people putting their Christian costume on only on Sunday.  Most times, the thought process doesn’t extend beyond the success of the manipulation or the score. Of course not, they are enjoying the momentary pleasure.  But as, someone once told me, “just keep living……..”

Once while visiting a church in Houston Texas, the Pastor was sharing a story of someone he had known over the years that was facing one bad situation after the other one.  As he shared the story, without revealing any names, he also shared what a hell raiser this person was in the earlier years and how many evil acts upon others, to include him, had suffered at this persons hands.  The Pastor yelled from the pulpit, “I wanted to tell him, you can’t figure out what’s happening……….THINK!”

It’s not that our lives are about payback from on high, but there are consequences positive and or negative with every action.  The seeds that we sow are those that we shall also reap.  As I meditated on that, my translation would simply be, behave as you want to experience.  As the scripture reminds us, not to be weary in well doing.

When faced with challenging situations, simply pause.  Stop, pray, proceed!

Tanya M. Wilson is an inspirational speaker and writer living in Charlotte.  To learn more about her visit http://www.360you.net