Yep, it’s true … someone laughed at me.  On my birthday no less! Even during my birthday celebration! A friend picked out one of my character traits and laughed.

And I laughed too.  It’s what you do.

 

 

Later, when the party was over and quiet time came, there was still a tiny arrow stuck in my heart and I contemplated it.  Then I asked Father about tiny arrows. Are we to blame that some stick?  Is it a flaw that this was hurting a bit?  I don’t count myself easily offended.  But am I?

And Father immediately responded.  “It’s not about you at all. It’s about her.  Remember when you were a teenager and made fun of a boy during lunch one day?  You actually liked him a lot and wanted his attention.  But you didn’t know how to get it.  Remember?”

“What are you telling me, Father?  She wants my attention?”

 

“Yes, she does.  She doesn’t get any at home.  And you get lots of attention because Hunny is devoted to you.  She made that statement too.  So, yes, she’s envious, but it’s more than that.  She wants YOUR attention.  It might be better than actually being you.  Isn’t that why popular girls in school have other girls surrounding them?  Getting the popular girl’s attention is like sharing her shiny identity with her.

But because the popular life might be too much to handle … it’s better to simply have her attention, instead.

 

 

Suddenly that blazing light bulb shone brightly over my head and the arrow melted away.  I could see so clearly now.

I might not think of myself as the popular girl, or anyone to be envied.  But perceptions have a reason for existing in each one of us.  And there was certainly a reason for hers.

No promise of love exists in her home, even after 28 years together.  Sometimes lovers,  and sometimes friends, they resent the familiarity and convenience that glues them together.  Abuse littered her life previously.  So, having none now is a blessing.  And she counts herself lucky for finding a haven of peace.

 

Father says to bless our enemy’s and even though she wasn’t one, her words had taken that form.  And now I understood that she could use all the blessings I could possibly pour out on her.

So, I wrote her a note to thank her for coming to my celebration and to express how glad I am that we are friends.

 

I asked Father to bless her like He did another unloved woman, Leah.

In Genesis 29, Leah was unloved and because of it, Father blessed her with babies.

My friend is past the age of wanting babies, but Father knows how to translate that blessing appropriately.

And I trust that He will.

 

 

It’s obvious that this incident doesn’t describe every situation when someone might laugh or ridicule us.  But once again, Father made His point.

He knows everything about every situation.  And I must come to Him to learn the Truth.

 

 

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.  I send blessings on the way for yours.

Faith