Yesterday I received a blow. Ouch! Briefly, here is what happened. Our neighbors were having some trees cut down.
After hearing several fall, I decided to walk over and see what was happening. Believe me…I know to keep my distance, we’ve cut enough trees ourselves that I know not to get too close, not to get in the way, etc.
I walked through our woods into their woods but still kept my distance. One tree in particular was quite large. As I was walking back home I saw my neighbor coming my way so I walked on over to her. I smiled and began talking about the big tree that had been cut. She, in return, said it was big and I needed to stay out of the way. I should go home and stay home! Ouch.
Ouch. That hurt. I went home. I still hurt.
What should my reaction be? I want to tell everyone what mean, rude neighbors we have.
In a way, I’ve just done that. But in reading scripture it says to love my neighbor, to pray for her, to do good to and for her. Oh, help me, Lord. Help me get over the hurt. Help me to watch (from a distance) ways that I could possibly help her.
allinthedayofme.com 
Is it possible she cares about you and wanted to protect you and was aggravated that you put yourself in harms way?
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Thanks for your comment, Gail. I do appreciate comments. 😉
Well, I didn’t take it that way. No trees were being cut when I went over. If I was a child I would think she was worried about me, but I’m a grandma. There was not even a hint of respect for another person, let alone one older than she. So…I really can’t agree that she cared about me. I think it was rather she didn’t want me snooping.
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HI grandma, i am so sorry and totally agree with you and that was not very nice but you did the right thing by praying and i hope she never does that again i hoped that she would come to one of our tea party’s someday……i guess she wouldn’t do that :(. i really miss your old neighbor who would come to tea party’s all the time. well i love you and im am so sorry she treated you like that.
I love you so much grandma and i am so sorry that happened.
❤ Syd (your little dressage rider )
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Hi Sydney! Thanks so much for your sweet comment! 🙂 Well, maybe sometime when you come we should invite her to our tea party! That way she would know we’re just friendly neighbors who want to be friends. I miss our old neighbor too. She loved our tea parties. She also loved it when you girls went over just to visit with her. Ms Patricia and I always laughed because I wasn’t invited to join you! We have wonderful memories of Ms Patricia as a sweet neighbor, don’t we?
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Don’t know what to think, Anita. When we don’t exactly know the background of someone, we may think they are mean, but something is behind it, a story to tell when they got a lawsuit, or hurt or someone close hurt. So I would give it to the Lord, and not worry. Just keep being your sweet self, and another occasion will come up maybe when you can befriend her, or like you said invite her to your tea party. She probably needs a friend and someone praying for her, if she reacted, truly in a rude way. Some of my worst critics and rude people in a situation have become our closest friends over time. It is hard when you were extending a friendliness to her though, let the Lord’s good salve of grace pour over your wound and heal. God may be preparing the ground work for you to be great neighbors and friends. Let go and let the Lord make lemonade of your lemon. Love you, hugs, Sue
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Thanks Sue, for your good comment. Yes, I’m giving it up to the Lord. Who knows what might come of this. Perhaps nothing…perhaps something…
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It is good to acknowlege our hurt and it does sound as if she were rude but…we don’t know what’s going on in someone’s world and why they appear rude. Perhaps she’d had a fight with her husband or perhaps she thought you might try to stop her cutting down the trees or …..many possibilities. Our real peace comes when we can let go of our expectations that people treat us like we expect and when we learn not to take things personally. It’s not excusing the behaviour, it’s just learning to be less reactive and hurt by others and your praying for her was a wonderful step in this direction. Regards
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Thanks for your good comment. I’m going to write a note to her today.
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That is hurtful. Sometimes people say things when they are stressed out in less than graceful ways. I know I’m guilty of that. Hope you get it all sorted out. Sending hugs your way.
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Thanks for your comment. Sometimes things I say come out wrong too. She was just so forceful. But thanks..
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