Labor day weekend and a lesson learned

The kids and I got home last night after a fun weekend in God's country (a.k.a. Missouri). All of the grandkids had put money together to purchase a stone in memory of our grandparents and a few of us had the opportunity to take it down to the church camp that was so special to Grandma and Grandpa and also to many of the rest of the family. Quite a few of us attended camp there at different points, my parents were married in the lodge in front of the fireplace. Grandpa had planted a grove of trees there many years ago that made the camp to many of the family feel even more "ours". A touch of Grandpa that was there although he no longer is. Unfortunately, last spring a tornado went through and tore the camp up and completely took away my Grandpa's trees. Anyhow, it was a bittersweet day at camp. For some more than others. My memories aren't as strong of camp as some although I've always felt a strong pull to this place knowing it was there. Knowing that the grandparents that I adored walked there, knowing that I could go there and touch the trees that my grandpa had planted. Well, although his trees are gone and camp was forever changed I was still able to feel a bit of their presence there. I was still able to resurrect a few memories from camp. I was still able to show my children a place that they have never had the opportunity to go to but have heard about. I was able to watch them run up and down the stairs that we ran, that Grandpa and Grandma walked. They were able to ring the bell that heralded many a meal. They were able to see how special this place is to us. It was precious, bittersweet day.

The rest of the weekend was spent camping with my wonderful insane crazy family. I am so blessed to have these people in my life. I've got to say, though, that there is one person that I don't usually feel blessed to have in my life. He is a thorn in my side or a sharp pebble in my shoe and I for him. This person drives me crazy. And I don't mean a little crazy. I mean certifiably bang my head against a wall crazy. Well, a visit never goes by without a confrontation with him and this trip was no different. So, the confrontation was over something stupid as many a confrontation is but it still had me fuming. And yelling. And sure that I had to have the last word, etc.., etc... Anyhow, so I went to bed that night still fuming and griping and complaining to my Father that I just couldn't believe how this person was and that he would yell at my child (although in reality he hadn't) and on and on... Well, in the midst of my rant I'm thinking "don't yell at my child" several times until I realized that I wasn't thinking that he shouldn't have yelled at MY child but that God was telling me I shouldn't have been yelling at HIS child. Hmmm.... so I'm supposed to be more accepting of THIS MAN! grrr.... Well, ok Father, if that's what you want I'll try. I got up the next morning and spoke politely, ignored irritating behavior, and bit my tongue and listened when he spoke to me. Then I got to go home. Thank goodness. lol Because it's still a new enough concept to me that I'm not sure that I would have kept my rude, unforgiving, judgemental attitude in check. It will be a while before I have to deal with this thorn again, and I pray that God will work on my heart in the meantime. That He will help me to remember that I am every bit as irritating to him as he is to me and that if my attitude is more in line with Jesus then the time we have to spend together might not be so painful. It would be good for me to remember to apply this concept to every area of my life. Because, we are all His children and who am I to try mistreat His child?