There is an awkward topic on my heart to address today, friend.
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Several years ago, I was good friends with a neighbor. We had coffee regularly, and appeared to enjoy one another’s company. We both had younger children, and attended church.
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One day, for no known reason that I knew of at the time, she began avoiding me.
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Like, walked right past me, refusing to make eye contact – as if I wasn’t there.
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I became a wreck for a few weeks, fearful of encountering her in our neighborhood.
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It took her being rude to my daughter the same way she had been with me for the situation to catch my husband’s attention.
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He walked right over to her that night, and informed her she could continue to be as mean to me as she wants, but she better not be rude to our children again, or she would be dealing with him.
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She claimed not to have seen us, and apologized to my husband.
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But do you know what happened when the situation was brought into the light? And I began to pray about it?
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Two things.
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1. I felt the impression to stay away from her. Romans 16:17 kind of nails how I felt at the time. I had tried more than once to apologize for what I may have done wrong, with no response.
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.”
God confirmed later through a mutual friend that this gal was battling mental health issues, and likely needed a medication adjustment and/or counseling for a new memory/trigger which may have come to the surface.
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2. I no longer felt fearful when we ended up out in the neighborhood again.
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In fact, I still see her occasionally around town, and I always smile when i see her.
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She has never apologized to me for what happened to our friendship, but I do not expect her to. I let it go.
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Follow His lead, friend. Sometimes it okay to walk away.
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#fearfactorfaith
#hopefortheharddays
KARLA LEES 