In this story, I am Cindy.

Today isn’t exactly a good day for me but the day isn’t over yet so I know I still have time to make it better. It will be better.

Image borrowed.

Something happened. It was just the usual conversation with a friend. The conversation wasn’t giving me much impact until I heard that one line that almost sucked the energy I got left for the day out of me.

Have you ever been in a conversation when you surprisingly find out things that you don’t expect to find out? What makes it more difficult is when you have to try to pretend like it doesn’t bother you because you want to protect another person. You give up what you think should make you feel better because you don’t want this person to think lowly of someone else; even if that someone else that you try so hard to protect at the time of the conversation has somehow betrayed you. If you have been in this situation then you understand exactly what I mean. If not, this illustration might help.

Cindy and Kate are sisters. Although, they both love each other, Kate suffers a lot from insecurities and comparisons people make of them. As a result, Kate will do or say things that will make people dislike her more. Cindy understands what Kate is going through so she would do all she can to make Kate feel good about herself. She supports everything Kate does and cheers for her all the time.

One day, Cindy arranged a dinner date with her dad. Her dad previously gave her an assignment to come up with an idea for their mom’s birthday party. Cindy loves her Mom more than anyone else. She has spent the last two months preparing everything for it. She would even gladly share her ideas with Kate, who in turn, showed warm support and cheers for her. Nothing could ever go wrong, she thought. 

Cindy met her dad and both gave each other a hug. Just when they were waiting for the food, her dad began thanking her for being supportive and caring of her sister, Kate.

“She has improved a lot and has started to trust herself because of what you do for her all the time”, Dad tearfully said while holding her hand. 

She smiled. She loves her sister so much and she wouldn’t want her to feel less of herself.

“…in fact…” Her dad said after trying to catch his breath. “She has also come up with great ideas for your Mom’s birthday party.” 

“Really?!” Cindy almost shouted.

“Yeah, I told her to share it with you so you can add it to your, am sure, outstanding ideas but she said she also wants to surprise you. So she started fixing everything and has closed some deals.”

“Wow! That is amazing, Dad. I can’t wait to hear! Tell me what she has done!” she felt really good to be a part of Kate’s transformation. 

Her dad started to proudly tell her Kate’s plans. As the idea unfolds, Cindy started to feel uncomfortable. She eventually realizes why. Kate’s plans were her plans – the exact same plans she has shared with Kate and Kate seems to have owned it now.

What does she do? Should she stop her dad from talking and claim what is really hers? Disappoint her dad by saying they were all her ideas and Kate stole them? Should she excuse herself from the conversation and give Kate a hate-Kate call and possibly ruin their relationship? Should she give in to her emotions at that moment and burst into tears and hope that her dad asks her why? 

She felt like a melting candle – hurt and betrayed. She wanted to cry but she tried very hard to hold her tears. She loved Kate more. Her relationship with her is more important to her than her dad's approval. An approval that she knew she can get anytime and Kate would have to struggle for, for now. She usually tells Kate her flaws when she knows she needs to hear it, but on this one, she decided to let Kate find her own flaws herself.

After excitedly sharing Kate’s so-called ideas, her dad asked her to start talking about hers. She didn’t know how to react so she just said, “Am glad Kate was able to finally share her thoughts with you. I think we should support her on this. We should go for what she has already started.”

Dad held hand again and said, “Thank you.”

As painful as it is, she knew she did the right thing.

In this story, I am Cindy. Being in her shoes, isn't exactly a happy place to be. It is painful and in fact it has brought me some tears before I decided to write this. 

Cindy, with her human mind and heart, would have kept a grudge or would have started a war. But THE Cindy, with her human mind and heart coupled with God's grace, will leave everything to God. Although she usually tells the people that she loves their flaws so they can work on them, she would have to pass on this one and let them find their flaws on the way. 

She will pray for strength, understanding and a compassionate heart. She will do this because she can't on her own.  

Hold on to the good. 

- 1 Thessalonians 5:21b