Written by It’s been fifteen years since my dad has been gone. Time flies, every single year. May 8th will always be a day of remembrance—a day when I couldn’t stop death from coming. No amount of begging or tears made a difference. Death cannot be undone—at least not on this side of heaven.
Of all the advice I’ve received over the years encouraging me to never forget my dad while letting go of false guilt, none has been as impactful as the words of Charles Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. His wise words are for us all.
“We gotta try to live in a way that will make them proud, we gotta try.”
—Charles Ingalls
False Guilt vs. True Guilt
For those dealing with grief and those who are carrying the weight of guilt that’s way too heavy to bear, it can be difficult to decipher false guilt from true guilt. When false guilt goes unchecked, it leads to self-sabotage. I can relate all too well.
Knowledge equals power, and mental strength can be the first step in changing what you choose to carry. Read about false guilt vs. true guilt in this encouraging article on CompellingTruth.org.
If you are battling false guilt, may I make a suggestion? Lay it down. Give it up. Stop carrying something you were never intended to carry. It’s too heavy and it only becomes more burdensome as time goes on.
God is the only One who can shoulder the weight of false guilt. Surrender it to Him… and immerse yourself in the truth of God’s Word.
- Romans 8:1-4
- Hebrews 4:14-16
- 1 John 2:1-2
When all is said and done, there’s only one thing left to do. Let go of the past and focus on the future—on the good that we can do to make them proud.
Can’t get enough of the wisdom of Charles Ingalls? Enjoy this post about the power of our words.
Much Love,
Wendi