Scripture standout: Ps 101: "5 Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret,
I will put to silence;"
Luke 10: "21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."
Morning thoughts: I slander my neighbor in secret. I'll just go right ahead and say it. My neighbor is loco. It all started with a barking dog scenario that escalated into our having to call the police to file a report one late, sleepless night while our neighbors were out of town. Now they hate us. They've yelled at little children. She ripped me a new one disgracing me with words about how my kids, "run wild! Open your eyes, Suzanne! (hate it, btw, when someone gets my name wrong)." We now live in total ignorance of each other's existence. And yesterday, she unleashed her venom on another neighbor toward whom she has similar sentiments.
I am just sick to be in this situation with a neighbor. Conflict is just not my bag, baby. And as many times as I've tossed the bag to God, I still hold on to all of its yucky content. How does he resolve something like this?
On another note, I saw some really cute pics of the kids at camp on the camp websites yesterday. Children are so receptive to understanding "these things." Joy, peace, patience — all the fruits of the spirit — are so easy to pick at camp.
His Deed/The Day: Today a good friend was in the middle of a personal health crisis. We texted good scripture while she was getting some tests done. I'm still praying for her peace of mind.
Today was a beautiful day on another note — Hikmat, the beautiful Afghan girl who lived with us last summer, came to visit. She is happy this time. She's not sad and despondent and ready to go home. It was beyond words wonderful to have her in the house again. We all went to a pool party tonight, and when I took her to her host family's house to drop her off, she cried. She is scared probably because she's having her big cleft palate surgery tomorrow. But the girl who cried for her own mom's arms every day, twice a day and often with grating drama, last summer — cried when we parted. That meant the world to me.
Morning thoughts: I slander my neighbor in secret. I'll just go right ahead and say it. My neighbor is loco. It all started with a barking dog scenario that escalated into our having to call the police to file a report one late, sleepless night while our neighbors were out of town. Now they hate us. They've yelled at little children. She ripped me a new one disgracing me with words about how my kids, "run wild! Open your eyes, Suzanne! (hate it, btw, when someone gets my name wrong)." We now live in total ignorance of each other's existence. And yesterday, she unleashed her venom on another neighbor toward whom she has similar sentiments.
I am just sick to be in this situation with a neighbor. Conflict is just not my bag, baby. And as many times as I've tossed the bag to God, I still hold on to all of its yucky content. How does he resolve something like this?
On another note, I saw some really cute pics of the kids at camp on the camp websites yesterday. Children are so receptive to understanding "these things." Joy, peace, patience — all the fruits of the spirit — are so easy to pick at camp.
His Deed/The Day: Today a good friend was in the middle of a personal health crisis. We texted good scripture while she was getting some tests done. I'm still praying for her peace of mind.
Today was a beautiful day on another note — Hikmat, the beautiful Afghan girl who lived with us last summer, came to visit. She is happy this time. She's not sad and despondent and ready to go home. It was beyond words wonderful to have her in the house again. We all went to a pool party tonight, and when I took her to her host family's house to drop her off, she cried. She is scared probably because she's having her big cleft palate surgery tomorrow. But the girl who cried for her own mom's arms every day, twice a day and often with grating drama, last summer — cried when we parted. That meant the world to me.
Dealing with the same thing -- only it is a family member who has a drinking problem. UGH!
ReplyDeleteI need to remember that God is the great equalizer -- not me.
Thanks for the tough words.
Glad we're in this together, Sister.