One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about about a woman who was brought to Jesus.
She was being accused of adultery. She had been caught in the act.
The pharisees wanted Jesus to chastise her.
They thought she should be punished and stoned to death.
Stoning to death was the consequence for adultery according to the the Mosaic law.
Jesus looked at the distraught woman. Then He turned the crowd’s attention away from her by stooping down to his knees and moving dirt around with his finger.
The pharisees asked Jesus what He was going to do with this woman, an obvious sinner.
Jesus looked up and said “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
This week I got an email from someone who vehemently disagreed with something I wrote. It was cruel and unkind. It left me feeling empty, feeling like I’d done something wrong.
After I read it, I had two choices.
I could throw a stone back, or I could catch her stone and let it fall to the ground.
I prayed about it, I journaled about it, and in the morning I sent her this response.
“You may be right, and I love you.”
I realize if I’m going to show up in the world and find the women who need my help, there will probably be more stone throwers along the way.
I realized I’ll get to decide over and over if I’m going to throw stones, or if I’m going to catch them.
I want to be a stone catcher.
What do you do when you’re faced with unkind words?
Do you feel justified and victimized?
Do you want to get even?
I don’t blame you. Being a stone catcher is not for everyone.
But there is one person who understands this work, completely.
It’s Jesus.
When you feel wronged by someone, will you turn toward Him or against Him?
Sometime turning toward Him means getting help.
Sometimes it helps to have someone look at your circumstance from an outside perspective and help you clear your mind.
You know, help you see what you can’t see.
When you do this, you can be confident that you are acting in alignment with who you are, and you want to be.
I have helped many women just like you with things just like this.
I can help you too.
