Can you keep a secret?

I don't know why but today I've been thinking about secrets. We all have them. Remember the delicious secrets of our youth. Secret hideaways, secret dreams, secret codes. Then there are the secrets that can ruin relationships. There is nothing good about these secrets. So why do we keep these secrets? I've always tried to not keep secrets from my children. I try to be honest about mistakes I've made. I expected them to make mistakes but learn from mine and make their own. I also tried to be honest with them about feelings, good or bad. Secrets can be damaging. Why? Because they seem to bloat inside us. They become bigger and bigger and when the gas can't be held in any longer. Well, it's a pretty big stink! I know that's a weird analogy but it is true. Our church has had a series of sermons entitled Relationslips. Sunday's sermon has stuck with me. I realized that all I've done is complain about a broken relationship in my life and I've done nothing about it. I admit I'm lost on how to fix it but I haven't even lifted it up to God. I've started to pray for healing in this relationship. From my standpoint there needs to be some significant heart to heart to begin repair. But when and how to start? There have been a lot of secrets kept on both sides that have caused separation. Before I ever got to this point I had to decide if the relationship was worthy of repair. Because sometimes their not. Sometimes it is just time to move on, circumstances or beliefs have changed and the common thread is no longer there. That's okay too. Do you have a broken relationship? Pray on it. Let God show you how to make repairs or how to look back gratefully on what was.