Obvious

Sin. We all do it. And none of us can escape from it. So why do we get caught up in judging others and putting them down just because they sin differently than we do? Why do we judge those whose sin is more obvious- does it make them a worse person just because their sin is more "visible" to the rest of the world?

I'll be the first to admit that I am, on a daily basis, the world's worst sinner. I am a horrible sinner and I am fully aware of how much I mess things up all the time. I mess things up when it comes to relationships, school, work... pretty much anything you can name, I'm bound to mess it up some how. I am the type of person that is really, really passionate about the things I care about and therefore persistent in trying to fix things.... which isn't a bad thing... until I start getting argumentative. I like to be right. And most of the time I probably am right, I just don't know how to pick my battles. I also don't know how to let things go very easily, which means I can become bitter and hold grudges (not healthy, I know) which can cause A LOT of drama. I'm impatient, insecure, selfish, hard to handle, not easily understood, I get jealous easily, I  get hurt easily. I get angry and can lose my temper. I have pride issues and I know I can act like a bitch (sorry for the language). I have all of these things plus thousands more issues. But let me ask something- if anyone, ANYONE, out there can read that list of the things I struggle with and tell me with 100% honesty that they DON'T struggle with any of those things, then they can cast the first stone.

I know I've made mistakes and handled things this year poorly. There are things I could've done a lot differently to avoid all the mess that is in my life now, but I didn't. I messed up. But so does everyone else. Am I saying that just because everybody messes up that it's ok? No, I realize that what I do and say has consequences, but what I am saying is don't look down on me just because my sin is more obvious than yours. I'm not perfect, but neither are you. That's why God sent His Son to die for ALL of us, because we ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory. I need His grace just as much as everyone else.

I'm fully aware of my mistakes. I don't need others pointing them out for me. I am also capable of admitting them. I find it somewhat amusing that people talk behind my back saying I'm all the things I listed before as if I'm not aware.  It just really frustrates me when people point out all my faults as if they have none of their own. It's the whole "take the plank out of your own eye first" kind of thing...  People are so willing to point out the faults in everybody else BUT themselves.  I'm sorry that my sins are more obvious than most people's and therefore I get scrutinized for it more, but I am a sinner saved by GRACE and my sins are covered by the blood of Christ. I am a redeemed person and that's enough for me!