BRAIN INJURY 101: Clash of the Titans
What happens when two people who love each other, but have each experienced brain trauma, experience the often-times “clash of the titans”? Picture the scenario. You’ve been quarantined for two plus weeks due to the virus, yet we have another +/- 4 weeks to endure as we look to the end of the month. Tensions are running high, you are nose-to-nose and one or the other is getting on the other’s nerves. Sound familiar?
The situation:
The house is much “smaller” than you experienced. You are not sharing the same interests. One has an on-line class to work on, and has a difficult time doing so. This same person must access social media in order to gain in-site from a study group she belongs to. He complains there is too much “screen time”, and that she hasn’t achieved her quarterly goals yet. Tensions rise again; he goes for a walk and she heads for another cup of coffee and her study space.
Behind locked doors, the tears that have been at bay since the virus hit, start to come. Not in the torrent she thought they would, and not over fear of the virus. The tears are for the relationship that seems to be bruised, battered and fragile in the midst of the virus. The relationship that is precarious at best due to the couples’ respected injuries.
The solution:
What does one do? What does the guiding Light, the Word of the LORD say? In the letter to the Hebrews, the writer states, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15 NASB.
Hmm, pursue peace. That means, someone needs to be the bigger person, put on their big-girl pants and apologize, or at least change the attitude. Bitterness is an awful thing. And the enemy of our souls loves to use it to drive wedges between spouses, families, friends, nations, churches. So, take the ax, or better yet, the two-edge sword of the Spirit – the Word of God to that root! Use a backhoe if you need to!!! Dig up that root, cast it into a BIG fire and destroy it.
Putting other’s interest above your own~
Philippians states, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves, do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NASB
In Conclusion:
So, the remedy to the high tension and the growing root of bitterness is simple. Apply the healing balm of the Word of God to the wounds that seem to be festering. Allow the wound you have in your heart to be sliced to the core, so the ugly infection can be washed clean. I said the answer was simple, but not easy. It takes courage to admit when one is wrong, even though the hurt is there and it’s raw. You don’t want to pick the scab but let it alone. Seek the Word and apply that healing balm. Let the Holy Spirit do His work of comforting you as He guides you to Jesus. For only Jesus has the words to heal and give life and bring peace to your hurting relationship.
