October 8, 2023
You could have knocked me over with a feather yesterday when the man who, just one week ago, chastised me for the way my flag is hung and berated my Americanism, apologized. I’d just returned from a late afternoon walk when I encountered him in the street in front of my rig. He was walking his dog, a cute little Corgi. We acknowledged one another as I walked past them and onto my driveway.
I pretended not to hear him the first time he called, “Hey!” but I couldn’t ignore him the second time. I turned around, fully expecting another confrontation, when he pointed at my rig and said, “I shouldn’t have said what I said,” and used hand signals to pretend to zip his mouth. It was kind of cute, now that I think about it.
His apology confounded me; I smiled and said, “It’s cool,” and then was quick to follow it up with, “Have a blessed day,” as I headed inside. I’d wished him the same last Saturday when he was all fired up, and it quenched his anger then. His response last week gave me hope that whatever relationship we would have as neighbors would be at least civil. What happened just now completely took me by surprise.
Did wishing him a blessed day change his attitude? I would like to think so. Certainly the way he responded last week, albeit gruffly, indicated he might be a Christian—even if only to treat others the way he wished to be treated. Actions do speak louder than words.
Here it is, the following day, and I’m still reliving the moment, basking in the joy of what happened. I’m grateful for this experience and the spiritual lessons learned. Up until now, the words sometimes got stuck in my mouth, but sincerely wishing others to have a blessed day surely has ripple effects, like my neighbor’s change of heart. From now on, the words will be easier to say.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ~Ephesians 5:22-23
