190 – Getting, Giving, and Forgiving

May 28, 1986

One more week before we leave for New York.

Dan now has 3 moving crates for our all of our worldly goods, which will be loaded on the high school teacher’s flat bed and transported to Livonia, NY. Dan is pleased with them and with the price. One cost $5 and the other two cost $20 each.

Dan took several of our plants to Hydraulic Depot, our friend Jim’s business. Today when I called, the girl who is always such a crabby person on the phone was friendly! Dan said she was overjoyed when he brought the plants. We learned a lesson in softening people’s hearts—bless them!!

Our house on LaRue was snuggled in between 3 apartment buildings. Many of our neighbors worked at the casinos downtown, a few blocks away, and slept during the day. It was a challenge to get the boys and their friends to play quietly outside as they raced around our house, running or on their big wheels.

I apologized to the man with the orange truck who lives next door to us.  I felt the time was right as I saw him sitting on his front step reading. First I went to Dan and he prayed for me.

“Excuse me, but we’re moving and I want to be sure to apologize before we go, for the episode the other day. I know the kids get noisy and I was defensive because I work so hard at having them be quiet.” He replied,  “Well, kids ARE noisy and Mom’s ought to be defensive toward their kids.”

He was gracious and forgiving and grateful for the apology.

I was repentant and humble and sincere.

And I was relieved that he had not argued with me and sorry we had not made friends sooner.