Tired of the "High Road"

As a kid I was always taught to "take the high road." You know.... the high road. It's the road you take when someone offends you or hurts your feelings. (Let me clarify, It is not being a pushover.)

For example. If my husband comes home and says something that might feel a little insensitive, instead of holding it against him for a week, or saying something hurtful back to him, I think..."he has had a long week, he didn't mean it that way, he is tired, he has a lot on his mind, he loves me and would never hurt me on purpose...etc." You know... the high road.

I believe in the high road. I know it is a Christ like way to be. I hope that people will take the high road with me because I am sure I say and do things that could be interpreted different than they are meant. I never mean to offend. Besides, who am I to judge. I have no place.

The high road helps me avoid judging, avoid holding grudges, and gives others the benefit of the doubt. All good things. It takes energy and effort to hold grudges. There are better places I can put my energy and effort. My husband and I are trying to teach our kids to take the high road. Especially with one another.

Here's the thing. I believe in the high road, but, ...sometimes I get tired of it. Really tired of it. Does that sound bad?

Last week my feelings were hurt by someone. Someone I am (or at least used to be) very close to. No, I am not talking about my husband. :) I will spare you the details, not necessary. My feelings were hurt so bad, it would have hurt less if they would have just punched me in the face. I spent all day trying to take the "high road." I thought about their situation, what they were going through, tried to be sympathetic and understanding. I kept trying to put myself in their shoes.

BUT... Underneath it all, I wanted to call them, tell them where to go and how to get there. I wanted to tell them that if they wanted to have a relationship then things had to change. I wanted them to know that I would not just be sitting around to welcome them, once they got things straightened out. I actually wanted to get on a plane and tell them those things face to face. I couldn't tell which was worse, the hurt I felt, or the anger I felt. I was tired of "rising above it." I wanted to throw the high road right out the window. Surely for all the times I have taken the high road, I was entitled to get mouthy at least once, right?

There was internal turmoil between what I knew was right, and what I wanted to do. Do you ever feel that way?

Over the last few days I have tried to forgive and move past the incident. I can't imagine what this person is dealing with in their life right now. I know they are doing the best they know how. I know (or at least am hoping) that they wouldn't hurt me on purpose.

My husband and I were talking about the situation. He reminded me of a phrase we heard over and over during General Conference a few weeks ago.

"Charity Never Faileth"

At first I fought the saying in my mind. "Yes it does", I thought. Charity fails. I feel like I have been showing charity toward this person and the situation for a looooong time, and nothing has changed. I don't see charity changing anything any time soon either. 

Then, like a breath of fresh air, It dawned on me. Showing Charity to other people will never fail. Things might not change, relationships might not get better now, or during this life, BUT regardless... there will come a day when I am judged. I will be judged for my actions and my thoughts. It is then that "Charity will never faileth". It is then that I will be grateful for the times I took the high road, and despair over the times when I didn't. It is then that the Lord will show mercy for all of my weaknesses and my shortcomings. When I am judged, the times when I have shown charity will never have failed me. 

I was reminded that I don't get to choose when to forgive or rise above, or take the high road. I am required to take the high road, always. My salvation depends on it.

A humbling reminder that I shouldn't ever get tired of the high road, because the high road is always the right road.

Are you ever torn between what you know is right and what you want to do?