#branthansen Archives - Kristin Saatzer

Oh, how I love July!

Here are four share-worthy things for you in this 7th month of 2020…

~Workout: Faith-based, online yoga videos (you can try them for a month for free): https://holyyoga.net/

~ Podcast: Revisionist History (fascinating!) with Malcolm Gladwell (can be PG-13 plus): http://revisionisthistory.com/

~Book: I have read it a few times and recommended it on this site before. There is much wisdom here for the times we are in.

~ Quote: from the author of Unoffendable:

“Choosing to be unoffendable, or relinquishing my right to anger, does not mean accepting injustice. It means actively seeking justice, and loving mercy, while walking humbly with God. And that means remembering I’m not Him. What a relief.” Brant Hansen

Blessings, friends!

Junior High School called and it wants its hurt feelings back.

Oh, Middle school. This demographic gets a bad rap sometimes, but I (usually) enjoy these humans, even though extra grace is often required.

This stage of life is challenging for most. Many kids ooze insecurity, hold grudges, exaggerate stories, gossip, bully, and think narrow-mindedly.

Hmmm… Sounds like some grown-ups, doesn’t it?

Those of us active on social media see this type of behavior daily. It is oftentimes a mean scene on the World Wide Web, and in Junior High. Offense Gone Wild. Only, from my perspective, the kids aren’t as jaded as the adults and they forgive easier.

I was unfriended on Facebook for not liking someone’s celebration post, for not inviting someone to lunch, and blocked because I left an organization. I was reviled for my Christian faith and shunned because of a misunderstood family dynamic. Ah… the fun of social media.

My internet and other “real life”experiences, trained me to tiptoe around certain people, to consider my message at length before I speak, post, or send a text or email. I find myself worried that I might cause hurt feelings, even by the most casual-type of spoken or written word. I am a pleaser peacemaker and I fret that I may unintentionally offend these persons by just being me.

It is exhausting.

Most of us have experienced, seen, and yes, inflicted offense in life and online. One of my favorite books is Unoffendable by Brant Hansen. Here is the quote from the dedication page of the book:

“To all those who want grace for themselves but struggle to extend it to others.

Wait: that’s everybody.”

God is funny sometimes. As I jotted down notes for this post, a discussion took place between my twenty-one-year-old son and me. He asked me to stop making dentist and doctor appointments for him, he said he wants to make them from now on, and explained his reason. I was somewhat offended! My feelings, injured for a few minutes (because Mom knows best) until I laughed at the timing, and let the hurt melt away.Continue Reading