Pam Padgett ... teacher
A few months ago one of my neighbors sent me an email with what she
considered to be "cute" sayings about animals. I was grieved by the
first saying because it spoke of God in a way that is not true. I
didn't read any further. This neighbor is not a Christian, and I
prayed asking God how I should handle this. About a week later, I
received another similar email which again brought grief. I
believed I was led by God to send her an email asking to be removed
from the distribution list of people she sent emails like this to,
and explained why, sharing truth from the Bible regarding what I had
read in these emails about God. She did not respond in any way.
Although she has not sent any more emails, I feel sure she was
offended that I asked her to stop sending these to me.
Before asking her to stop sending such emails to me, I had asked God
to confirm whether this was His will, and was reminded of neither
be partaker of other men's sin ...
I Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be
partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
Sometime later the following was also called to my attention ... And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11 )
I hadn't seen this neighbor since then until recently when there
have been a few times she has been driving down the street while I
was walking my dogs. In the past, she would stop her car and speak
briefly, but now she scowled at me and kept driving. It would
"sting" me when this happened and I turned to God to help me. I was
also aware of how anger and hatred eat at a person and was sorry to
see the hostility in her.
I forgave her and also prayed asking God if there was anything I
could do to live in peace as neighbors with this woman ... if there
might be some way for there to be no hostility.
Romans 12:18 If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Last Friday I saw a mobile veterinary van parked in front of this
neighbor's house. This neighbor has two cats. In the past I've
taken care of the cats when she has been out of town, and knew that
the older cat is being treated for cancer. When I saw this
veterinary van, I was concerned that the cat's condition may have
gotten worse. As I prayed about what, if anything, I should do, I was reminded of what Jesus said in the following
...
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on
the just and on the unjust.
I called the neighbor and left a message on her answering machine,
telling her I had seen the veterinary van and offered to help if
there was anything she needed. Although she didn't return my phone
call, she later sent an email. There was no hostility in the email,
and she thanked me for calling and leaving the message offering to
help. She explained that the older cat's condition is about the same. Around a
month ago, however, the younger cat was diagnosed with a very deadly
type of cancer and is not expected to live into December. This
woman is a widow with no children, and I'm sure this is devastating
for her. I replied to her email, telling her how sorry I was to
hear about the younger cat and again offered to help if needed.
I am grateful to God that I believe He led me to call this neighbor
and show compassion to her, and that there was no hostility in her
reply.