Have you ever thought about how you learned something long ago and now you know it isn’t true? Somehow along the way, you adopted a false belief. How did that happen?
At least once a week I notice a false belief I learned, one being told, or someone buying into one. I know I learned how advertisers mislead you into believing what they want, but it was the night tragedy struck, and what followed that taught me how easy it is for someone to adopt a false belief.
Tragedy Strikes
After my parents helped their friends do inventory at their grocery store, they were rewarded by being treated to a steak dinner. My younger brother and I stayed at the grocery owner’s home with their son, David.
Since David had just completed ninth grade and I seventh, I guess my parents thought we could take care of my 9-year-old brother. Being summertime and not having school probably aided in their decision.
I don’t think they could have ever imagined what was about to happen. I sure didn’t!
After eating ourselves, we decided to go outside since the temperatures were cooling down, and the sun would be setting soon.
I quickly learned David loved golf. He thought my brother and I should learn how to swing a golf club, so we headed up the hill, golf clubs in hand.
After my turn, I Wandered toward the house. Evidently, my mind was wandering also, for I paid no attention to where my brother took his turn.
Suddenly, my body propelled forward as I heard a loud, but deep, thud. I found myself on one knee with my left hand on the back of my head before my mind registered what had happened.
Feeling wetness on my palm, I realized I was bleeding. “How strange,” I thought, for no pain could be felt.
Help is on the Way
Hurrying to the house, my bloody palm nor long hair could restrain the flow of blood, leaving a trail. I hollered at David’s older sister, who had come home sick from work.
Perched on a barstool once inside, everyone quickly gathered around. David handed me a towel and I applied pressure to the wound as I heard his sister calling 9-1-1.
Unable to contact our parents, we waited for the EMT to arrive.
While examining the back of my head, the EMT gently and softly spoke, “Oooh, looks like you might need stitches. Try to stay awake for me, hon.”
He told me jokes as he cleaned my wound. I imagine it was to keep me awake. Nonetheless, I appreciated it greatly. It took my mind off of my fears. I had barely figured out how the accident had happened.
I hadn’t seen my brother swing his golf club, but was so grateful it hadn’t been David’s swing.
Sleepy, I was transported to the ER. Tiredness and not hurting took away my fears, but I was glad my parents arrived shortly thereafter.
The sound of them working on my head without any pain medicine intrigued me. Believe it or not. Strange, but true.
I left with four stitches, matted hair, a cut nerve, and a fractured skull. Okay, I also left with parents serving my every need, and a brother hiding guilty feelings.
Guilt Grew
Two years later, I found myself sitting in an eye doctor’s office. Cysts on my retina were discovered, creating large blind spots in my vision. Glasses couldn’t help.
“What can cause cysts on my retina?” I inquired.
The doctor replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “A blow to the head could do it.”
From that day forward, my brother lived with guilt. I’m ashamed to admit I was so self-absorbed in my new reality and its effects that I was unaware of his thoughts or feelings.
The False Belief Revealed
In another couple of years, my eyes were diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a hereditary, incurable, progressive eye disease. The cysts were the first symptom, but the prognosis was total blindness.
My brother’s guilt welled up inside at this news. He believed my future blindness was all his fault.
I have to admit, he did a good job of hiding his emotions though.
Then, the doctor explained more. Retinitis Pigmentosa was a hereditary disease and not caused from a blow to the head.
Finally, my brother knew the truth – it wasn’t his fault at all. He could let go of this guilt-producing false belief for good now.
What Are Your False Beliefs?
False beliefs lay hidden inside us. It is a problem faced daily that often isn’t taken into consideration. The truth is out there, but not always discovered.
In life, there are many times we have false beliefs for one reason or another. It can be obtained by:
- information given
- undiscovered information
- false perceptions of our own.
Information Given. False information is given every day – just think about the news or what your child is learning in textbooks. We know history is being rewritten because we’ve lived through some of it ourselves, or had trustworthy relatives who have.
Undiscovered Information. Do you remember when eating egg yolks was bad for you or salt was? Later, research proved otherwise. There are many false beliefs we accumulate and learn later in life were not true.
False Perceptions of Our Own. One thing blindness and vision loss has told me is how often we misperceive. It might be not seeing the whole picture because of missing who just walked away or what happened prior.
Equally, we might overhear part of a conversation and start believing they are cutting us down, when we missed the other part.
Even when hearing correctly, we can misunderstand someone’s tone of voice, body language, or the word’s intent. I might miss body language or expressions, but I know how many times my husband and I say a word like ‘here” and be referring to different places.
What if you misunderstood someone’s tone of voice? There could be another explanation . . . and a false belief is born.
***Think back on your life and where false beliefs could be lurking. Then, move forward by recognizing them and catching them before they sink in too deeply. Take the time to research if necessary. If unsure, shelf it instead of brooding and getting angry.
Never accept anything as the truth without prayer. The Holy Spirit gives the discernment you need. He is the revealer of all truth.
Let me know if you gleaned something from this post today. If you did glean something, would you please consider making a donation to my ministry? This allows me to continue ministering to you through my writing and affirms your appreciation also.
God bless you as you eliminate guilt from false beliefs.
© 2022, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
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