Henna Tattoos... The Paste

When applying henna tattoos (Laali), the longer the dye paste stays on, the darker the outcome of the tattoo...and the longer it lasts on your skin.
Take it off too soon and it's a faint mark left that will fade away quickly before its effect can be truly enjoyed.

I always never have the patience to sit still long enough for it to dry properly, or even if I let it dry I kind of take off the paste too quickly, thus I have never had the luxury of experiencing the beauty of a well set henna tattoo on my hands. It’s always a faint mark that just fades away like a kid scrambling away from the boogey man.

The longer you keep the paste of hurt and betrayal in your heart, replaying it over and over again, recounting the story of disloyalty to whoever cares to listen, cuddling with the pain it brought you, the more it sets... and the harder it is to clean off, thus creating the perfect environment for offense to breed. We really should lovingly stay clear of people who always bring us to the dance floor of betrayal and beats us with their moves every chance they get.

"You can't control what comes in your mind but you can control what stays there." Jesse Duplianties

You really can’t control the way people decide to behave towards you, or the feelings they serve you with, the bitter taste of the effect of their treachery towards you but you can control how you handle it, if you harbor the pain like a fugitive or you feel the effect of the hurt and sweep away the dust of bitterness eagerly waiting to settle in your heart, feeding you with a repugnant taste.

People would most definitely hurt you ... both those on the haters club and even those on the exclusive lovers list. They will give you reasons to be mad and lawfully pissed off, and if you decide to exercise your right to cuddle that hurt...rolling it over in your head for days and days going on years... the longer your heart harbors it, the darker the stain sets and the harder it'd be to take off... in other words, the more offended you get. (Which translates to stress and a whole lot of negativity, thus a break down of your body, because inside is so messed up, it shows on the outside, creating easy access for the negative energy in the world around you into you)
Offense is such a barrier between you and loads of blessings...

John Bevere calls Offense The bait of Satan.  “Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential. Most often it is a fellow believer who has hurt them.”

(You really should find a way to get this book.)

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”
Philippians 4:8-9 MSG

These are the kind of pastes that need to stay longer in our hearts as the verse above describes... things that are true and pure and lovely... things that trigger joy, like the fact that God loves you unconditionally... He came and died for you and rose again... redeemed you... forgave you ALL your sins... has voluntary amnesia towards your iniquity and transgressions ... made an open show of the devil for your sake... made you more than a conqueror... blessed you... favored you... graced you... crowned you... enthroned you... made you His righteousness. Think on these things! Like fine wine they make the heart merry and trigger an inside out response that makes you a joy to the world around you even when all looks bleak.

“Love forgets wrongs so that there is hope for the future.” John Bevere.