Praise Item re a healed relationship

[BonnieA]

Hello everyone.

About 1.5 years ago a coworker and friend took offense to something I said and retaliated by sending me a very cruel, vile email.  She wasted no time telling me exactly what she thought of me and made it clear she wanted nothing more to do with me.

My day to day travels between clients has often been unpleasant since then, with her either getting off the bus to avoid any contact at all, or simply moving to the back of the bus.

Until Saturday we had no communication whatsoever since the day I received the email I mentioned.

On Saturday morning I was leaving a client's room in a seniors' home, nearly melting into the floor due to the intense humidity and the heat in her room, when the coworker walked by.  She expressed true concern re my condition and I wished her a good day.

Fast forward to this afternoon, and she asked me if I was going to the meeting re a certain client we shared.  I was not aware of any such meeting..and may well have received notification and forgotten about it due to my concussion. Thanked her for letting me know and accompanied her to the meeting.  We stopped at McD's for a coffee and she said she needed to have some lunch.  She then said she wanted to buy me lunch as a peace offering.  I hugged her and thanked her for that.  We made our selections and continued to the meeting.

We live near each other and took the same bus home.  While waiting for the bus she gave me a very sincere apology and admitted she regretted her actions right after she sent the nasty email.  I told her how much it both hurt me and shocked me, but did forgive her wholeheartedly.

On a slight side note, she was raised in a church-attending family, but left that particular denomination after experiencing some sort of hurt and not getting an apology. 

Please join me in praying for her to come back into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I also thank the Lord for helping me to let go of the hurt, the anger, the shock, and finding the words to tell her I accept her apology.

[JudyB]

Forgiveness is a difficult thing when you have been hurt to that degree.  However forgiveness frees us, and enables us to be free with a clear conscience toward God!  Praying for you Bonnie!

[Jeanne Lee]

Bonnie, it was good that you accepted her overtures at reconciliation and her apology, and so blessed that you were able to forgive her.   I will be praying now for her more important and urgent reconciliation with the Lord.

[BonnieA]

Thank you both for your prayers and concern.  To make it a more personal prayer, her name is Michelle.

[Larry Hanna]

Bonnie, I can think of many things I could say but won't other than to rejoice with you on a re-established friendship.  You were hurt badly but she was left in torment by her actions.  You have forgiven her and can now store that away in the forgotten file cabinet since it is of no value for you. 

[BonnieA]

Thank you very much, Larry.  So true that I can now put the situation in the forgotten file cabinet.  I had been wearing it like a noose at times, and other times was able to hold my head up and carry on, no matter how she acted toward me that particular day.

A dear Christian friend listened to my retelling of the apology, etc, and suggested I tread softly, being careful not to let her get as close as she once was.   I will definitely heed that advice, since I don't want to get caught up in her negativity and criticism of others.   

I will continue to pray for her salvation, which may not come for her until she deals with her own longstanding issue of unforgiveness.

[geofft]

Hi Bonnie,  there is a verse that says "Where much has been forgiven, the same can love so much!" It is wonderful that you have responded to Michelle's request for reconciliation. God is at work. Geoff Thompson,Adelaide.