Feb. 3, 2008
My Terrible Horrible Very Bad Day!
Tell me something. Do I have a sign on my forehead that says, "disrespect me, I don't have feelings?" Why is it that while I try so hard to be nice to everyone else -- everyone else is so MEAN to ME?
Okay, so I exaggerate. Not EVERYONE else is mean to me. But a lot of people ARE!
This morning a lady in church proceeded to correct me (this lady is often correcting me) in front of the kids (again as usual) and I just wilted. Apparently some craft supplies hadn't gotten put back where she wanted it. Well, there had been a snow day on Friday so I wasn't there at the church to put it back from the day before when I had a substitute for my cottage school. (I had to take one my sons to the cardiologist.) I tried to explain this to her, but she would have none of it. Now she is all mad at me because of it. I'm not sure why she is mad. She might be mad because I tried to explain it to her. I don't know. I am praying hard about this, but I'm deeply hurt and frustrated! It seems like every time I see this person she is critical and I'm afraid that one of these days I'm going to say something I shouldn't!
Later, in the grocery store parking lot, while I'm putting my groceries in the back seat (two birthday balloons for my twins and two birthday cakes for the twins) a lady in the truck next to my car bellows, "did your door leave a mark on my truck?"
"No," I replied. "It didn't touch your truck."
"Yes it did," she snarked back. "I heard it."
Well, folks. It didn't. I told her she could get out and look if she wanted. She didn't say anything. Then, her husband showed up, and she said, "We're leaving now!" I guess she wanted me to shut my door just then, but I was hanging half in and half out! They screeched off! They could have taken the door off my car and me with it!
And,to top it all off, when I went to put my new shoes on for church tonight, I found them mutilated -- my dog-gone dog had eaten them.
Deep breath. Count to ten. Recite the Gettysburg Address.
Tonight at church the lady who likes to correct me wouldn't talk to me. She is REALLY mad.
I sat in church thinking, for 25 years I have come to church, supported my pastor-husband, sat in the pew and often pretended that all is right with the world, when what I really wanted to do was quit, run away, avoid people, never do one more thing to help anybody. What good does it do? People don't appreciate anything anyway!
"God!" I cried, "I don't want to do this anymore! I am tired of people being so impatient with me when I am patient with them. I am tired of people being mean and rude when I am polite and gentle. I am a gentle soul. Why is it that people can be so hurtful?"
"What? What's that Lord? You. . .You are gentle, too? What? Oh yes. I remember. You probably would have liked to run away when it came time to go to the cross. I mean, I might be sweating buckets of frustration and resentment while my husband preaches and people behind me judge me from their pews, but you prayed in the garden and sweat blood."
"You were--and are--kind to people, and you get spit on. You were--and are--gentle to people and heal them, and on the cross, instead of comfort, you were offered guile to drink. You tend to people's broken hearts but in return you received 40 lashes that tore your flesh to shreds."
If I stop to remember that Jesus did plenty of inconvenient things for us, and that He did them, not only for me, but for those very people being mean to me, I get a different perspective. If I get my eyes on Him and not my problem -- then I can deal.
Then -- I can breath. Then -- I can forgive.
But it's only through Him. Because with all the meanness aimed at me today, if it weren't for Him, I could easily become a hermit and never come out of my cave.
Like someone said, if you stick your neck out, you're liable to get your head chopped off. I guess it's better to be trying to do something for the Lord and be misjudged, than to hide and do nothing at all. Too many people need Him. And too many people need me to show the grace and peace that only God can give.
But there's still that side of me that wants to fight back! I can so relate to Peter when he lopped off the soldier's ear in the garden when they came to get Jesus! If Peter hadn't done it, if I were there, I probably would have!
Jesus wants me to continue to be a lover and not a fighter. I have to remember to keep my dukes down and respond with the same kind of love that Jesus showed toward the very people who spit on Him on the way to the cross.
Because -- Love Never Fails.
Comments
Feb. 4, 2008 - An Alexander day for sure!
 Posted by Majormom
I remember when my kids were young and I would lift my bangs off of my forehead and say "do I have stupid written on my forehead?" It's funny now but every time I said it they would pause and LOOK!! Hugs to you, J
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Feb. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by PosterGirl
That IS a bad day!!! Wowsers! Some people can be just downright mean. When I have the misfortune to encounter people like that I don't take it personally. I know they are just as critical to everyone else. After all, if you're expecting/demanding perfection, then EVERYONE will disappoint. I just always feel so sorry for the people who are stuck with them day in and day out! :0 No one likes fit-pitchers like them. Once you get over the anger there can be pity. Because you know acting like that they are dreaded, feared, and anything but enjoyed with everyone they come in contact with. And they probably just can't figure out why the whole world can't stand them?
Hugs,
Kim
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Feb. 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by Anonymous
If I lived close enough to you to stand by you when you are being attacked in any way....
I am afraid I would be Peter. I would be sadly lacking in the thoughts of Jesus and He would have to rebuke me for it... for not following His Father as He followed.
I've had so many similar thoughts, precious friend.
Time and again... Jesus shows me the way. His way.
Reading the surrender to HIM in your words brings tears. It shows your heart truly is turning into a heart of Christ... a gentle, loving and never leaving heart.
I prayed for you before finishing this...
And I pray His beautiful breath fills you as never before.
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Feb. 4, 2008 - Forgot my log in!
Posted by Anonymous
Sorry, Karla! I am under anonymous because I forgot my homeschoolblogger.com login info!
Love, Sandy ;)
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Feb. 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Majormom
Just stopping by to let you know that you've been on my mind and in my prayers. MY new word for my Type A personality this past couple of weeks has been letitgo. It has to be spoken smooth & quickly slurred together as one word in order for it to be effective!! Hugs, J
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Feb. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by hugs4Him
I'm sorry for your tough day. I have a lot of those too, & since I hardly leave the house my tolerance is almost nill for it all. I go home feeling good about never going out! I know the Bible says not to tire of doing good & you are such a great example. I wish I could be there & be part of your church, since there isn't one around here for us anyway. Seems the Lord puts specific people in our way to either test or grow us or both! Blessings, Michele
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Feb. 11, 2008 - Hi !
Posted by Anonymous
It'll be ok. Some times we have days like that. Count it all joy and pray for the lady at church. She has issues underlying if she is mad over little crafts.
Kysha
http://humblemama.blogspot.com
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