The sun was shining. Gusts of wind whipped the long grass into rolling, silver-green waves in the meadow. Coming down the road on horseback were two riders. Up in a meadow near the road, two other horses raised their heads, whinnied and trotted down to see the new horses. The pasture fence only let them get six feet from the dirt road. The horses stood with their necks outstretched, nickering to the passing ponies, eager to talk and be friends. But they couldn’t get close because of the fence. You might say they were “socially distanced”!
I laughed. “I know just how you feel!” I told the horses. “I miss being with my friends, too!”
Sometimes we cannot be with our friends. That’s when we begin to understand how important they are to us. Here in Montana, we are starting to get together with friends again, now that we don’t have to stay far apart because of the virus. It makes me so happy!
There are other things that can keep people apart, though. When people hurt our feelings, we don’t want to be around them. But is that what we should do?
The Apostle Paul was trying to help the people in Ephesus learn how to be good friends to each other. He said, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them . . . Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:29,32, NLT.
So when someone hurts our feelings, let’s not stay angry at them! Let’s not build fences in our mind to keep them out. Instead, let’s love one another. When we love each other and forgive others when they hurt our feelings, we will be happy and excited to see our friends, just like the horses were!
Until our next campfire, I’m sending you happy hugs!
Montana Gramma