Just who are you hurting?

My grandmother was telling Shannon and I about her experience as a first grader.

She was born in 1937 and they were still encouraging left handed children to learn to use their right hands for writing. She told us that her teacher would smack her hand with a ruler if she was caught writing with her left hand. She then told us that she still has to watch her heart when she thinks about what this woman did to her.

Now if my math is right, this lady is long dead. My grandmother is 78. If this lady was even 20 years old at the time, it’s putting her in her mid 90’s. She’s most likely long gone.

Not that we wish her dead. I should also add that my grandmother is probably the kindest and most loving individual you would ever have the pleasure to meet. I know that many would say that about their grandmothers, but I promise, if you met her, you would say, “Yeah, he’s telling the truth. This is the nicest lady on the planet.”

So I am exaggerating a bit by making the case that she is still bitter after all these years. It was more than anything a throwaway statement. I’m sure she isn’t lying in bed at night stewing about this teacher.

It did remind me of the fruitlessness of holding a grudge.

Suppose she were truly bitter and angry. Suppose also that this lady has met her maker.

Who is the bitterness hurting?