I Say We Duke It Out!

Yes, dys. He did. And I think He weeps a lot today.

When I was a child I behaved as a child...

I used to show horses as a kid. Each year, Dad made us get a new horse, train it in time for the show season, and then go to shows to earn points to increase the value of the horse, which was sold at the end of each year.

One year, there was a man that became quite agitated with my sister and me. He would mumble ill will as we went by, or say "mean" things to us for no apparent reason. We got along fine with his daughters, but Mr. P...

Being a sensitive child, this would greatly upset me. I would go back to the horse trailer and tell Dad that Mr. P had said such and such and I didn't do anything to make him say it.

Dads answer was always the same. "Kill him with kindness," he would say.

"But, how do I do that?" I would ask.

"Each time Mr. P says something negative to you, say something nice back to him that is truthful, from your heart. Don't make something up. Find something nice to say about him that you believe."

It didn't take long for Mr. P to not only stop his nasty comments, but to actually smile and say something nice back.

It didn't take long for me to see the wisdom in my fathers words. They still apply today. But, now I am an adult. I understand that Mr. P was looking at us as competition. He was spending a lot of money for his daughters to show and we kept winning.

So here we have Christians and non-Christians duking it out. Each side is trying to win. (what, I don't know, but I assume each side is fighting to win something) And, the numerous Mr. P's are are saying things that are upsetting the numerous children.

What would your Father advise?

Squinney,

You are very wise indeed. Thank you so much for this post. Bless you!

Yes, wise words. I only wonder why the last sentence seems to apply only to Christians. Am I wrong about that?

Yes, squinney, is Intrepid wrong about that? I didn't quite catch that at first.

"kill him with kindness" !

God loves you all......more than I do! lol

a bit of honesty thrown in is good.

Not at all. It applies to everyone. Note that neither did I indicate which side is the Mr. P's.

A few here may have had rough childhoods and lacked a father, but most everyone has a father figure that they look up to, or someone they admire for their wisdom. One can read my above to mean worldy Father, Father figure, or heavenly Father. The point is to ask yourself the question, not who is answering.

I was blessed with both a father and a grandfather that shared their wisdom with me, as well as letting me know the source of their wisdom. So, while I understand and appreciate your blessing, MA, my Fathers get the glory. :wink:

I'll also say this:

It isn't important to me or my Father(s) whether or not Mr. P learned anything or "got it" or changed his life. I have no idea whether he remembers that summer at all.

What was important to my Father was that I got it. I learned the lesson. I have carried that wisdom with me, and have been blessed by it many times over. He is more pleased by that, than knowing whether or not Mr. P was taught anything, because I was His concern.

Thank you for clarifying, squinney. It is still wise advice.

I think your father and my mother sound alot alike squinney.

She used to kill me with kindness until I blew up as a kid.....then when she said she still loved me and knew I did'nt mean the things I said.......

the floodgates opened every time.

It's sad but, even though I know better...I have'nt used much kindness in such circumstances. I probably will more so now. :wink:

I just want to say that I think Setanta is a person of very strong will and he kinda reminds me of my grandfather who was a seargent in WW2. Very tough man when he feels he needs to be yet a soft spot kept secret for those he cherishes most.

Some people don't just wear their hearts on their sleeves because they realize the value of it and would rather keep their pearls away from the swine....so to speak.

Then again.....


I could be wrong and Setanta could be evil incarnate!

lol

My feeble attempt at humor. You don't like it....Go to Egypt and pop a squat. Like me in the picture.....you'll get the point!

Well, I'd say you just might find out with that statement.

It was a joke momma.

I know Bartikus. So was mine. :wink:

My joke seemed funnier to me somehow....lol

Actually, I thought it was very good.

Maybe Setanta is not the one to worry about......hey momma?

I agree with you, Bartikus. It's not Mr. Setanta that we need to be concerned about.

Worry is just the interest you pay on trouble... before you have it.

I can't add one minute to my life worrying.

Do you guys ever sleep?