Guilt

Yesterday I did not write a blog. Horrors! Well no not really. Even though I had made a decision to blog everyday, I do not feel guilty about not blogging yesterday.
My puppy ate my lap top electrical cord today. Do I feel guilty? No. I have been carefully putting it out of his reach and today I did not. So how do I feel? Well, not guilty. Upset with myself that I forgot to remove it, but not guilty.


I have learned the difference between real guilt and false guilt. I remember as a young girl at school whenever something was missing and our bags and desks were searched, I always felt sure that the missing item would be found in my things. I knew I had not taken it  but still I felt guilty. This strong sense of guilt is something I learned from my Mother.


Only yesterday when I was speaking to her on the phone, she was saying that she was sure she had offended someone who had not phoned her for  a while. I could see how ridiculous that was. Probably what happened is that person just did not remember to phone her because of the busyness of life.


Another situation that always made me feel guilty was when the guide dog puppy that I was raising was not performing as he should or did not make the grade. I have come to realise that it's not up to me, it's up to the dog. I do my best and that is all anyone can require of me, even myself.


There is a song that comes to mind..'there are no mistakes, just lessons to be learned.'
I have also been told that many people who suffer from mental disease are really suffering from guilt.


Now true guilt is a good thing. It means our conscience is intact and we have the opportunity to do something about our guilt. We can cover it up or we can confess what ever it is that has caused the guilt. Sin causes guilt. We sin against others and we sin against ourselves. We also sin by things we do not do that we should have done or not say the things we should say.


Confessing our sin to God and asking for forgiveness brings healing to our hearts and minds. Sometimes it is also necessary to ask the person we have offended to forgive us.
While we cover up, and don't acknowledge our sin it haunts us and causes depression and low self esteem. Far better to free ourselves from the guilt and walk in good mental health.


I am so glad that I can now recognise the difference between real guilt and false guilt. It is truly liberating.