Is it mine?

I saw a post a while back that spoke about getting involved when we see injustices.
And I read the comments, just to see where people's hearts and minds were. 
Divided. 
Many were saying, "not my monkey, not my circus". 
Others said that until it was brought to their front door, they were staying out of it. 
Then, there were those that championed getting involved - that it was better to be over-involved than not involved at all. 
I have been known to take all 3 of these positions, depending on the particular injustice being discussed. 
But the one comment that was made that resonated deep in my soul? 
- "Not all battles are mine to be fought." 
I have thought on that long and hard, ever since reading those 8 words. 

Yes, I do believe that in general, we should absolutely stand & fight injustice. 
However, I do think we need to be tempered as well by considering - what battles are mine? 

I am convinced that a major reason for our world being in the shape it is in owed to so many of every generation - past, AND present - having the attitude of "not my monkey, not my circus". When it comes to child abuse, domestic abuse, poverty, hunger, health issues, political reform, religious instructions, and so many more issues that we are now facing, in our country, and in our world. 

But I am also convinced that a major reason for so many of our familial relationships being how they are, bruised and broken - is a direct result of "too many irons in the fire". 
No, I am not speaking of abuse. That is a whole other side of things! 
I am speaking of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. 

How many times have other family members, or friends, even strangers, gotten involved in a conflict between 2, and what could have been settled with a conversation of open minds and hearts, has become a forest fire of epic proportions that now involves many more than the 2 or 3 in the beginning? So much so that if it ever gets resolved to reconciliation it will be one of the miracles that we have only read about in Bible stories of old! 
And no, this is not a new thing. 
But we are all guilty of it. 

Many years ago, in the very early years of our marriage, Rick and I made a conscious decision and agreement. 
That when we argued, disagreed, or got our feelings hurt, or our pride was broken - we would keep it between the 2 of us. 
We would not turn to family or to friends. 
We would not put others in the position of taking sides. 
We had already seen so much of that happening in our circle of friends and family, and we had ourselves been put in that position. 
So for all those years of marriage, we did just that. 
We kept it between the 2 of us. 
There were times when others, our kids and grandkids included, heard words between Rick and me (I'm sorry), there were times when the tension between us was thick enough to cut it into slices and others knew it (I'm sorry). 
But we did not consciously involve others in our marital relationship. 
Only after we had come to a peaceful and quiet time afterwards did we share what had happened - and then only as a teaching time, only when it applied to what someone was discussing with us that they were going thru at the time. 

I have more than once had family and friends - perhaps well meaning, perhaps with their own agendas and motives - come to me and tell me what this one said about me, or what that one said. 
And proceed to tell me how to handle it. 
Then, if I handled it differently, they were angry with me, with their own hurt feelings, that I did not take their advice and counsel. 
Or when there was a disagreement between me and someone else - family or friend - how many times have I been "counseled" to deal with it, when the "counsel" only led to stirring up strife between everyone - more than just me and that one? 

There are situations now that I could so easily get involved in. 
I can see both sides. 
I know the hurt on both sides. 
And there is that part of me that wants to play the part of peacemaker and healer. 
But - is that my battle to fight? 
Or would my involvement just make things worse than they already are? 
Those are just 2 of the questions I ask myself at least a hundred times a day (no exaggeration). 

So, saying all this to say - 
Yes! I do think we need to be very aware and on high alert for injustice. 
And to get involved, when it is our place to be involved. 
But that place needs to be the decision of YOUR own heart and mind. 
Realizing that there are consequences to being involved, as well as to not being. 

And now, this is all clear as mud! LOL