Sometimes, the stress and busyness of the Christmas season can sadly seem to bring out the worst in us. We have so much to do – so many gifts to buy, so many events to attend, so many people to contact – that our tempers may become a little unruly. At least, that is what occurred in a recent incident in which I reluctantly became involved.
I arrived late on the scene to find one person doing their best to arrange for our group to practise in a large lounge area for an upcoming event. However, another much smaller group already present had apparently objected strongly, as this would require them to move to a spot a few metres further away to continue chatting. There was plenty of room to do so, but one lady in particular decided to dig her heels in.
‘That man there was so rude,’ she fumed to me. ‘He calls himself a Christian, but the way he spoke to our group certainly didn’t seem too Christian to me! Anyway, why can’t they go and practise in their usual room? I think it’s disgusting!’
I hastily tried to take in what was occurring and decided the best approach would be to see if our group could indeed practise in our usual spot after all.
Eventually, after a quick combined effort on the part of various group members, that was arranged. We had our rehearsal in the smaller area, but I felt so unsettled by the offended lady’s words that I decided to return to the lounge to see if I could find her. She was still sitting there relaxing and beamed as soon as she caught sight of me.
‘Thank you very much!’ she said. ‘That was what should have happened in the first place.’
I understood where she was coming from but also knew the main reason the large practice area would have worked much better for us – and probably been safer too, considering the many people around nearby with COVID. I decided this lady needed to know why the spokesperson for our group had said what he had so explained his reasoning as gently as I could. She was not convinced, but her attitude seemed to soften as we chatted, and we parted as friends in the end.
This whole experience reminded me vividly of the power of making peace with others while we can – and as quickly as we can. While our group could perhaps have gone about things in a more sensitive, caring way, the other smaller group could definitely have been much more accommodating and far less petty and selfish! Yet what was there to gain in pursuing our cause? Only further dissension that could perhaps bring Jesus’ name into disrepute, in one lady’s eyes at least.
This Christmas, may we instead, in all our words and actions and however much others might offend us, truly honour our Saviour Jesus Christ, who came into this world to bring deep and lasting peace – peace between us and God, peace between us and others and peace deep within our own hearts too.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 