Cheryl kicked the door closed with her foot as she tried to balance her grocery bags, purse and briefcase.

“Hello,” she said. “Could use some help here. Anyone?”

Silence.

She gritted her teeth.

Why are they never around when I need them?

Cheryl shuffled into the kitchen and plopped her bags on the counter. One fell over and she fought to stop the apples from rolling to the floor. Her purse and briefcase slipped from her shoulder and dropped with a thud.

The phone rang. Cheryl caught the last apple as she grabbed the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Where have you been?”

Great, just what I need after a frustrating day at work.

“Hi Mom. How are you?”

“Fine. Didn’t you say you’d be home by 5:00?”

Cheryl squeezed the receiver to her ear by using her shoulder so she could free her hands. She put the frozen foods into the freezer one by one. “Mom, I had to pick up a few groceries on the way home.”

“You’re supposed to help me get my treats ready for the Tupperware party tonight.”

Cheryl smacked her forehead. “I’m sorry. I totally forgot and I promised the kids we would watch the next Narnia movie tonight.”

Her mother sighed. “Well, I came to your candle party last month. It’s the least you can do.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll take a look at a catalogue.”

“It’s not the same thing. Have a good evening.” Click. Her mother had laced the word good with sarcasm.

Cheryl slammed the phone on the counter.

Have you had something like this happen to you? Someone poured the guilt on thick like molasses? I’m sure we can all relate.

But, have you done it to someone else? You’re probably shaking your head no, but think again. I’m quite sure we all have. After all, we’re human.

Another question. Have you laid the guilt on yourself after confessing something to Christ and asking forgiveness? Again, we all have. We need to let it go. He has.

Guilt does not come from the Lord. Satan thrives on it and uses it to eat away at us like termites on wood. Don’t let him! Forgive yourself and move on.

How about we also forgive others and let it go? Just because we’ve wanted them to do something and they haven’t, doesn’t give us the right to use the guilt card. And if we don’t agree with something they’ve said or done, leave it alone.

We must stop trying to make them feel guilty.

Why don’t we let the Lord convict where need be? That’s not our job.

Psalm 28:4 (NLT)

My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.