For My Dog

I think that you love and value not only certain people but also animals, in your case your dogs This neighbor failed to respect that and as a result you have grown to resent him.

Good Morning, Samicat,

Thank you for your feedback.

A few things I'd like to address:

Please don't confuse my going to church with being (a) Christian. Yes, I go to church but that in itself is not a magic pill to erase all my struggles. I still cuss when I get irritated and I have unpleasant thoughts (obviously). However, I strive to better myself as time goes on. I'll never be the Bible-thumping-you're-going-to-Hell-if-you're-not-saved type. That's just not me.

You also ask what would Ruby want? I think somewhere in the earlier messages I stated that her being the sweetheart she was, even she would want me to drop it. As much as I struggle I just can't. Hence my going to church and seeking this forum. Will I ever come to peace with this struggle? Only God knows.

I appreciate the fact you love you animals. I have to ask, have you ever seen your pet get attacked followed by the responsible party being smug and uncaring? I'm willing to bet you haven't. But then, maybe you have. My point is is if you experienced what I went through and you found it in yourself to "drop it", then my hat is off to you. You can handle those situations far better than I ever could.

Now about the whole assault thing. I hope you understand what I'm saying. I'm not looking to just walk up to him and hit him. I could have done that years ago as I could have camped outside his house and waited for the opportunity. No, I would just treasure the one day he runs his mouth and I could bark back and let things go from there. Not very Christian, I agree. However, that is what I think about. Maybe I could just leave well-enough alone as it is clear he wants to avoid me. He knows he's wrong and a coward.

Lastly, all your Biblical quotes were very comforting. Ever since my struggle with this, I have written down a few of my own and recite them quietly when I have a few minutes. I find comfort in that. A particular favorite is 1 Corinthians 9:26.... "Therefore I do not run aimlessly. I do not box as one beating the air."

I wish you peace.

Right on, Open Eyes.

How about you take an attitude that you will leave him to karma? Would that work for you maybe? The idea that what we put out in this life has a tendency to come back to us in some shape or form?

Hello, Discombobulated,

Interesting you should mention karma as another forum member Private Messaged me and explained their experience similar to mine and how karma issued the payback.

If karma were to visit, I'd sure like to be around when it does but I realize I have zero control over that.

I'm not a Bible-thumper either (not religious), but it does strike me as contradictory to be going to a Christian church while also actively planning to violate some of the clearest rules Jesus laid out, such as to love thine enemy, and to turn the other cheek.

I must admit I was trying to shock you a bit, to get you to see the problem with clinging to this plan. Apparently I failed.

Let me try again - he was awful for the way he behaved. But if you don't stop bullying him and planning revenge, you are a worse person than him.

I know you have based losing weight and getting fit on having revenge. The following may help:

Sunk Cost Fallacy - the phenomenon whereby a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandoning it would be more beneficial.

Do you really want to be the victim of false reasoning?

I'm not going to be checking this thread again because it upsets me. Good luck. I hope you see Ruby again one day. I certainly hope to see my pets again who are deceased.

I understand going to church may be "contradictory" but it appears you missed the point. Again, going to church was never meant to be a magic pill. I may go for the rest of my life and still struggle to find closure. Also, you say you're not religious yet you seem to have a lot to say about God, forgiveness and several Bible verses which I found interesting.

You seem to have avoided answering my question on whether you ever experienced what I did. I'll respectfully assume you didn't (and I'm glad). It is best to hold off on judgement until you experience some things first-hand. I might also add that I don't need to be "shocked" into anything. I'm way too old for that. Come at me in a mature and civil matter and we're golden.

It also appears you misunderstood my anger as I am not "planning" revenge. Yes, I would like it but it's nothing I "plan". Big difference. In your opinion you may think I'm a bully or "worse" than the offending party which is fine. I however, see it completely different than that.

Peace.