Perhaps you鈥檝e experienced someone pouring out their pain over a past or present indiscretion. Some reasons may include someone who does a lot of talking just to hear themselves talk, others who don鈥檛 know how else to deal with the guilt of what they鈥檝e done or said or, someone who simply puts enough confidence in you to share their pain. I realize there may be other reasons but those are the ones with which I鈥檝e been most acquainted. Not to be forgotten, either, is the fact that we may also have been or currently are the one sharing our pain with a trusted friend. In either case, the matter of trust is what makes all the difference in the outcome.
Right from the start, however, I need to say that discernment is essential in deciding whether some information warrants contacting the law or other emergency personnel in order to prevent danger or harm to others. That鈥檚 crucial and in reality, another manifestation of love in action.
Moving beyond the caution I鈥檝e just noted, I read something attributed to George MacDonald: 鈥淭o be trusted is a better compliment than to be loved鈥�. Another quote, one for which I could not find the name of the person who said it, reads:鈥� Never take anyone for granted, especially the one who put trust on you. Just consider yourself blessed to actually have someone that trusts you.鈥�
In Proverbs Solomon puts out this warning (Proverbs 17:9): 鈥淗e who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates the best of friends.鈥� In another instance he鈥檚 even more explicit: 鈥淗atred stirs up strife but love covers all sins.鈥� (10:12).
Centuries later, Peter wrote: 鈥淎bove all, keep your love for one another fervent because love covers a multitude of sins.鈥� (1 Peter 4:8)
Always be worthy of trust!
