Stunned & Amazed!

[BarbTherese]

One of our neighbours is quite generally regarded as something of a 'neighbour from h*** - a very difficult person to get along with very often.  Earlier today she came over to my place and thoroughly abused me and for something that was not my fault, but clearly she thought that it was. I did remain calm and polite fearing to escalate things even further.  No way would she listen to what I was saying.  About an hour later, she came over again - and I thought probably to abuse me further, rather she came over to sincerely apologize and very humbly so.  This took real courage and much humility and reminded me yet again, that The Holy Spirit can be found at work with His Graces at all times and in all places and in all people - and sometimes what one would think is the most unlikely of people.  She is not Cathoic and in fact has no faith profession whatsoever and seemingly never concerned about other's opinion of her.

I am going to buy her a really nice card and a small gift for being a great neighbour.  I am still giving thanks to God and still quite stunned and amazed.  It does remind me too that psychologically we will strive to live up to another's highest expectations of us - and that it takes God's Grace to do so.

Edited January 29, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[Lil Red]

it is hard to swallow your pride and admit when you've been wrong and apologize....which is why i think sometimes people don't do it more often. Hopefully this lady was just having an awful day. Prayers for her and you too! :)

[CatherineM]

I am trained in many forms of mediation, landlord/tenant, victim/offender, creditor, divorce, etc. I have to say I've done one with a rapist and the parents of the assault victim that was less charged than the typical fighting neighbor mediation. If you can have a confrontation with a neighbor that doesn't require a call to 911, I commend you.

[BarbTherese]

Thank you for the comments and prayers for us both, Lil Red.  That she came to me and most sincerely apologized seemed right out of her usual.  Another neighbour heard the apology and she too was stunned and amazed that she had done so.  It did take courage and also the apology was entirely sincere and took humility.  We all make mistakes but it takes a big person to admit it and 'publicly'.

 

Catherine, thank you for your own comments.   I think the confrontation was really one sided.  She was absolutely furious and somehow (another stunned and amazed fact and gift of God's Grace) I kept my calm and composure fearing to escalate the situation further.  I am prone to anxiety attacks and it is so amazing to me that I never had one! :)  Perhaps if both parties start yelling at each other then a 911 could result.  I have the awareness that The Lord was really in this situation and plan to have a barbeque for neighbours (only three of us) in the courtyard in the front of our units at some point.  I hold that celebration ideally has two aspects - the supernatural and the natural or to thank The Lord and celebrate in some way (prayer and/or The Mass) and also to celebrate quite humanly to celebrate He who became human for our sake.  I am just about to submit a Mass stipend to our new parish priest in thanksgiving for something else also quite amazing to me incidentally and prayers answered -  and will be adding thanksgiving for this blessing also.

 

I woke up this morning and immediately said out loud to myslef "I just can't believe it!"  - that my neighbour was so very gracious and I did not have something of a major neighbour problem on my hands as I had anticipated - and that I did not have an anxiety attack (which could at times lead to a complete panic attack in the past).  And that somehow I had kept my own cool - and amazing!