My Support Forums - View Single Post

eskielover · Oct 26, 2009, 04:49 AM

((((WI))))

All of the things that you have said about this neighbor are definitely annoying & definitely not a good neighbor....no one I would allow to come close to me or my house, but to take what is an annoyance to the level of hate that you are expressing isn't a good thing. Everything that you have expressed as an annoyance has not actually done any HARM or HURT anyone.....it is definitely one huge annoyance that needs to be handles in a mature way that holds to the values that you really hold onto......such as what WI has suggested.

There are many times when God places things just like this in our life as a challenge to us....a way to give us a chance to develop the fruit of the spirit that we know we are supposed to have such as:
Love your neighbor as yourself.....doesn't mean only your loveable neighbors.....the real challenge come in loving those who aren't loveable.

People who are annoying cause us to have bitter feelings toward them.....we are to aim to restore the joy that God wants us to have.....what shows us better....being bitter, or being joyful?

Where do you find Peace when you have a crazy neighbor antagonizing you continually? When we hold to the values that we know we truly have inside our heart, we will find the peace we are intended to have in our life.

Patience is key in this situation.....remember that patience can't be developed until we are given something to be patient about....being patient with a neighbor like that is the challenge. How we respond to circumstances is important, but how we respond to other is critical. The key is that patience with people is impossible except through God. The key to patience is remembering that we are not to be the judge of others....that is God's job, not ours.....& we are to be forgiving with the goal being to forgive everyone & forgive everything....knowing that all will be judged by God. Knowing that unforgiveness creates bitterness that flames into rage & hatred which eat at us & do us no good.

Kindness obviously isn't a challenge being kind to a nice person....the challenge is being kind to those who aren't kind people.

God's goodness shines through our kindness to others.

We show our Faithfulness by holding to the values & beliefs that are what God has given to us

Gentleness...how do we be gentle without being weak against someone like that? Being gentle yet firm in our stand for our boundaries without tearing him down as a person or his self esteem. (who knows what really lies in his personality covered up by his course exterior). We can listen to them with respect without having to agree with what they say. We treat them kindly & with respect without being rude.....we can show them that we care without letting down our boundaries by being kind & yet firm.

The key to the whole situation however is self-control. It takes self control to be able to act in these ways toward a person who is not likeable or even tolerable. Self-control allows us to set our boundaries with kindness yet firmness. Self-control allows us to act rather than react.

God gives us a chance to show who we really are when we don't stoop to reacting to those who annoy us. It doesn't mean that we open ourselves up to being abused as we are strong enough to stop that in a gentle way...it is through God that we have the ability to stand strong against people who totally annoy us so that we don't have to turn it into the inappropriate feeling of hate when hate is an overreaction.

Take your feelings to God in prayer & you will be given the strength to handle this situation in a way that is beyond your human capability. Shine as an example of how God would want you to react. This is a challenge you have been given to grow in your faith & ability to walk in the path that God intends.

Know you have it in you.....sometimes it's just a little difficult to find.....so take it to God in prayer.....he'll help you find it.

Debbie