I told you
a few posts ago about my amazing ability to quickly lose my cool when my children have been targeted or, in that case, stolen from.
The other night, I realized that I have the exact same ability when my husband is misrepresented or accused of being something he isn't. I think it's called "momma-bear-husband-transfer syndrome", and I've got it bad. If it's hasn't already been made perfectly on this blog, of the two of us, Trey is the nice one. Everyone KNOWS he's the nice one. So, when someone says something about the hubs, it gets me all riled up because I'm easy rileable and they should know better.
I know rileable is not a word. It just fits so we're gonna work with me, right? Great. Let's move on.
Over the years, one of our neighbors has become increasingly negative toward everyone else on our street. They've put up fences where they didn't need them to ensure they're lawn wouldn't be inadvertently mowed, they've stopped letting their kids come play, and have cussed-out everyone from our air-conditioning man to our children playing in our own backyard.
We have tried really hard to be good neighbors and early on had a great relationship with them. As we saw them complaining about other neighbors more and more, we knew it was only a matter of time before we were on the black list. We have sincerely tried and made every concession we can to make they're lives as trouble free as possible. They don't want any kids in their yard so when there's a kickball game in the front, it's an automatic out if the ball crosses onto their grass. We're trying people. I swear.
The other morning while at VBS, Trey got a call that two police cars were in front of our house. He dropped what he was doing, put on his Kevlar, and went to check it out. Apparently, one of the boys' friends had come over and was trying to see if they were home by knocking on windows. We know this kid but I'm sure it looked suspicious so we were sincerely thankful the police were notified.
In passing, Trey saw our neighbor and said, "Hey, I don't know if you were the one who called the police but, if you did, I really appreciate you looking out for us."
He denied calling, which was fine so Trey moved on to the next neighbor saying the same thing.
Saturday night, I was out watering the weeds while Trey was at a movie with the boys. Our neighbor came over and said, "Your husband accused my husband of calling the police and we did not call them. Actually, I called up to the station to check on it and our name and address was on the report so I don't know why he told them it was us who called. We didn't and don't appreciate being blamed for calling."
Huh?
I defended Trey saying, "He was not
accusing you, he was
thanking you and the he really had no idea who called but since your husband was outside, he thought it might have been him."
Then she proceeded to say Trey was prejudiced against she and her husband.
Seriously? Prejudiced? Have you noticed he's never done anything but concede to your every whim and bend over backwards to right every wrong you think we've committed against you? He speaks to you every morning while you ignore him and walk inside. And, for that matter, have you noticed we're not exactly in the majority here and like it that way?
Silent scream.
I was able to keep my cool in responding to her except for the part where I said, "NO MA'AM ('cause that's not condescending. at all.). I will not stand here while you accuse my husband of something he isn't or take something he said in thanks and twist it to to serve your paranoia."
I think I read that in Matthew once. Trey couldn't find it but I'm pretty sure it's there.
I've been slowly reading Andrew Murray's book, Humility. It's incredibly convicting and says this about humility in the disciples of Jesus...
We may find professors and ministers, evangelists and Christian workers, missionaries and teachers, in whom the gifts of the Spirit are many and manifest, and who are the channels of blessing to multitudes, but of whom, when tested, or close interpersonal relationships reveal their true characters, it is only too evident that the grace of humility, as an abiding characteristic, is rarely to be seen...humility is one of the chief and highest virtues, one of the most difficult to attain, and one to which our first and greatest efforts ought to be directed.
I struggle with humility when pushed. It's the old analogy of a glass being struck and water flying out. The water comes out not because it was struck but because the water was in the glass in the first place. Through the grace of an infinitely patient Father, we are all learning to look more and more like Christ, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
And prayerfully, with humility, we may learn to live out our greatest command...To love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul, and strength, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourself.
...even if they are a little paranoid. Oh my gosh! Make it stop!
