ROOMMATE MAD

When I told you about my birthday I mentioned an incident with one of my roommates getting upset. Well during the past week the same roommate went ballistic on another roommate and then turned around and unleashed her anger at me once again. During her outburst I honestly shut up, put my headphones on, and ignored her. I was shaking and very hurt by what she was screaming, but I kept repeating, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1) over and over again in my head.

During the next two days, my roommate ignored me at all costs. I was okay with that as I was done with her and her crazy episodes. I felt in my heart that someone needed to give her a dose of her own medicine, and I was very willing to be that someone. As I thought about getting back at her God brought these verses to my mind:
"And be ye kind one to another . . ." (Ephesians 4:32)
". . . love thy neighbor as thyself." (Matthew 22:39)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

I chuckle now as I write this, but at the time I argued with God in my heart in regard to these verses. God didn't understand the situation. God didn't have to live with this woman. God needed to get with the program and let me handle things my way as I knew how to fix the situation and put this woman in her place. I am so ashamed of my thoughts now that I'm writing them down. No matter how much I argued and tried to reason with God, He kept throwing those verses back at me.

So two days passed and my roommate began to speak to me again. I worked hard at being polite and making sure when I spoke to her I was kind. The next day she asked to speak to me, and I agreed sort of dreading the conversation. My roommate apologized for her outburst, and in a very civilized manner we were able to talk things out and get to a point where we were both at a good place. In my heart I was thankful for every one of those verses God had brought to my mind. I'm so thankful I didn't do things my way, and God was uplifted and glorified as we straightened things out.

I was once again thrilled about having peace in our room and getting along with all my roommates when that evening I heard my name called, and I went to the bubble to speak with an officer . 

(See the June 12, 2021, post)

Joy