Not Every Judas needs 30 Pieces of Silver
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. I've had friends do it for free. But betrayal doesn't have to change your heart.
10/25/20264 min read
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. I've had friends do it for free.
Now, ain't that something?
The older I get, the more I realize that not everybody who sits at your table is there because they love you. Some are there because they're hungry for what you have. Some are there because they want a front row seat to your life. And some are just waiting for the right opportunity to get up from your table and tell everybody else what was served.
But here's something else I've learned: You can be disappointed in people without becoming a disappointment to yourself.
I've spent a lot of my life trying to understand why people do the things they do. Why friendships fade. Why people who once cheered for you suddenly go quiet when something good happens in your life. Why somebody can know your heart, know your struggles, know the things you've overcome, and still choose to hurt you.
And you know what? I've finally accepted that some questions aren't going to come with answers.
People come and go. Some are meant to stay a lifetime, and others are only meant to walk a little piece of the road with you. That doesn't mean the memories weren't real or that the friendship didn't matter. It just means their chapter in your story has ended.
And honey, you cannot keep rereading the same chapter expecting a different ending.
Lately, I've been playing what I call the Glad Game. It's something I've made a conscious effort to practice. When something goes wrong, when somebody hurts my feelings, when life doesn't turn out the way I expected, I try to find something in the situation to be glad about.
And let me tell you, some days you have to look mighty hard.
But there's almost always something.
Somebody walked out of my life? I'm glad I no longer have to question where I stand with them.
Somebody talked about me behind my back? I'm glad my character doesn't depend on their opinion.
Somebody showed me who they really were? I'm glad I finally saw it.
You see, the Glad Game isn't about pretending life doesn't hurt. It's about refusing to let the hurt have the final say.
Because bitterness is a funny thing. It convinces you that you're punishing the people who hurt you, when really you're the one carrying the weight.
And I don't know about y'all, but I've carried enough in this lifetime.
I don't want to become suspicious of every kind word because somebody once lied to me. I don't want to stop loving people because somebody didn't love me properly. I don't want to become cold, hateful, or hard just because the world has given me plenty of reasons to.
I want to keep a good heart in a world that sometimes makes having one feel like a disadvantage.
And that takes work.
It takes prayer. It takes forgiveness. It takes knowing when to walk away without making a scene. Sometimes it takes crying in private, washing your face, and going right back out into the world with a smile.
I've also learned that forgiveness doesn't mean handing somebody another opportunity to hurt you. You can wish people well and still wish them well from a distance.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and He still washed his feet.
I think about that a lot.
Not because I believe we should allow people to mistreat us, but because it reminds me that another person's actions don't have to determine the condition of our hearts.
I can't control who stays. I can't control who leaves. I can't control what people say about me when I'm not around.
But I can control what kind of person I choose to be afterward.
I can still be kind. I can still celebrate other people's victories. I can still believe there's good in this world. I can still laugh until my stomach hurts, love with my whole heart, and find something beautiful in an ordinary Tuesday.
And I can still play the Glad Game.
Because at the end of the day, I don't want to look back on my life and realize I spent more time being angry about the people who left than being grateful for the ones who stayed.
There are still good people out there. People who don't compete with you, secretly resent you, or disappear when life gets difficult. People who genuinely want to see you happy.
Make room for those people.
And as for the Judases?
Let them go.
You don't have to chase them down, expose them, or convince the world of what they did. Sometimes the greatest peace comes from letting people be exactly who they've chosen to be, while you continue being exactly who God called you to be.
Judas may have betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but he didn't stop the story God was writing.
And neither will the people who betray you.
So keep your heart good. Keep your faith. Keep finding reasons to be glad.
And remember, just because somebody leaves your table doesn't mean you have to stop setting a place for love.
After all, I'd rather have a good heart that's been broken a few times than a hard heart that can't feel anything at all.
Love,
Mississippi Memaw ❤️