Recently I have has the unfortunate experience of dealing with a lot of controversy.  It happens to all of us.  At home, at work, at church.  I will admit, I have handled it badly at time, but I had a "lightbulb" moment yesterday.  When people have difference of opinions, it's actually a good thing.  I created positive change, if allowed.  If peoples opinions are not heard and respected, the only change that happens is bad change.  That does not mean you have to dismiss your own opinions.  It means you have o listen to others and respect them.  I have had some difficulty with that recently.  I tend to get a little defensive at first, then think about it later and sometimes, frankly,  realize I have acted like an jerk.

What my "lightbulb" moment revealed to me last evening is, I do not have to allow the controversy to affect me so much. I can't control what other people think, feel, or do.  I need to be a positive person and remember I am here for a purpose, and stop allowing others and their actions to determine my mood or behavior.  My opinion counts as much as the next person and I am not wrong in them.  They are just that...opinions.  I feel sometimes people will treat you entirely differently when your opinion doesn't match theirs.  I unfortunately have been experiencing that lately too.  I sincerely hop I do not do that to other people.  I hope that I can be frustrated with someone and still treat them with love, friendship and respect.  I pray that if I don't I am called out on it, so I can ask for forgiveness.

That being said, the decision I have made is to not allow negativity to rule my life any more.  I need to keep my focus on the Lord and my family and let the rest go.  Do I think I am going to fail at this occasionally? Yep.  Hopefully I will learn from it.  I will do my very best to continue to treat the people in my life the same as I always have and not make my friendship or love dependent upon their opinions matching mine.