I picked up a few dozen pecans on my morning walk and cracked several, and ate them as I walked along. They were sweet and delicious. After eating about 5 or 6 I told myself inwardly, “Okay, this is your last one” and I shelled one last pecan and popped it in my mouth. As I chewed on that final pecan I discovered that it was very bitter, so I quickly spit the pieces from my mouth. I couldn’t stand having that bitter taste in my mouth, especially having just eaten a half dozen really tasty, sweet pecans. Even though I told myself that was my last pecan for the morning, I broke my vow, and shelled one last pecan and ate it… it was delicious. I couldn’t let my final experience be a bitter one.
Bitterness steals away your memory of sweetness (and I’m not just talking about pecans now). There are people who have wonderful memories of sweet friendships that ended bitterly, so the sweet memories are shrouded by the bitterness. I’m amazed by how many families have been broken up, brothers and sisters not talking to each other, simply because there was one bitter moment that brought an end to all the sweetness. Some hold on to the unforgiveness their whole life and go to their graves with the “bitter taste” in their mouths.
Almost everyone has gone through some kind of relationship issue that ended bitterly. It is an unfortunate fact of life. If the last taste you had of friendship and meaningful relationship left you with a “bitter taste in your mouth” determine that you’ll not let things end that way. There is a sweetness in life that will only be discovered when you spit out the bitterness, and get it completely out of your system. One day we will all stand before the Lord… we’ll breathe our last breath here on this planet. Don’t let your last taste of life end with bitterness!
Hebrews 12:15 (NAS)
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
