My Most Memorable Moment

My most memorable moment from the Sisters Reunion came on Sunday morning just before we were to set out on our journey back to Detroit.

Wait; let me back up…it actually began on Saturday evening.  Several of us were hanging out in the great room around the fire.  We had had a lovely evening of worship and fellowship together and we were all just basking in the glow when the conversation turned to our Reunion plans for next year.   Should it be here, there, somewhere else altogether…..everyone seemed pretty noncommittal for a while and agreeable with whatever…except me…I had very definite thoughts and as you may or may not know…I am not shy about voicing my thoughts.  Now this has often gotten me into trouble since it is much easier to edit the written word than it is the spoken word.  For those who know me well (in person that is) I sometimes have a tendency to speak before thinking things through completely and occasionally (do not laugh) find I am misunderstood and even offensive to others.  I know…this is difficult to believe…but trust me...it is true.  

On this occasion I was strongly advocating the idea of having our reunion next year in a new location, primarily to re-distribute the weight ...the weight of travel and expense on those of us who have to come long distances and the weight of work on those who live in the area and have to do all of the planning, cooking, transportation and other hosting duties.   We discovered before too long that we are more like sisters than we thought as the conversation was not entirely pleasant.

 During the course of this discussion at least one person, our sweet sister Trish, was offended by my comments, it left her feeling as if her contributions were being dismissed, her portion being belittled.  I’m sure my comments sounded just that way and although it was far from my intent…my sister was wounded.   

I acknowledged her feelings and position on the spot as soon as I realized the situation however I did not feel as if the wound had been healed and how could it be…Trish didn’t really know me, she didn’t really know my heart or what I thought or meant…or even if I was truly sorry…after all, we are sisters in the Lord and not sisters after the flesh...our knowledge of one another is based on our love for Christ and what we read on the internet and not really any friendships we may have in the flesh.   This is usually a tremendous blessing, I'm sure all will agree...however the flip side is that it is a field ripe for misunderstanding.
After our discussion I went to Trish and apologized personally and she received my apology and my hug but all was still not right.  I knew that it might not ever be because some people...even other Christians hold things and cannot let offenses go.  For me, the weekend was tainted by my own hand…or should I say mouth.

I had shared earlier in the day that the Lord had recently been speaking to me about forgiveness and the art of forgiving those who have hurt or wronged me…but this was the other side of that…this was me being on the offending side of the situation…me wronging a saint....me in need of forgiveness.   I have been in this place many times and I was reminded again that it is easy to inflict pain but not so easy to heal it.  I was disappointed in myself and sad.   I had done it again…and now I stood in need of a commodity that could only come from a virtually unknown source...my "internet sister".   I went to bed praying for Father God to forgive me and to somehow make it right ...now I was at the mercy of my Father and my sister... I had done what I knew to do.

All this brings me to Sunday morning.
As Sunday rolled around and we began to prepare to depart, God answered my prayers....Trish came to me…she gave me a gift that she knew I would enjoy …and then she gave me an even greater gift…her true heartfelt forgiveness…she hugged me and apologized for taking offense...she set me free!  In that instant my "internet sister/friend"  became my sister indeed.
Trish lived out the scripture
"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1Jn 1:3 NIV
Because our fellowship as Scarf Sisters is not based on flesh and blood...it is with the Father and the Son.
I was so filled with joy at her expression of Christ toward me!   God inside of Trish forgiving me!  Including me in the circle of fellowship between the Father, the Son and His child, Trish.  All was again, right with the world and I was able to go home in peace.

There is much to be said for forgiveness on both sides of the coin…the giving and the receiving of it.  I am still learning…may God help me to find a way to lay down my pain when I have been wounded and set not only myself but my afflictor free by the power of forgiveness as my Sister did for me.  Thank you, Trish!