Last night we heard yelling outside of our home, while sitting in our family room watching TV. We thought it was just the people next door – we have noisy neighbors who have two little Chihuahuas and are always yelling for them. But after a while it was clear that they were not just yelling for their dogs.
I went to the front door and peaked out and heard LOUD conversation with the neighbors and someone else I couldn’t identify in the dark. I told Greg, “I think you better go out and see what’s going on”. He did – and I was only able to hear parts of the conversation from where I was inside holding our puppy.
Greg was out there for close to 30 minutes talking to the gentleman who was drunk and did not seem to making much sense. It was determined that he was back home – had once lived on our street with his parents, had run into tough times and was living back with them for a time. The neighbors were so freaked out they wanted to call the police and would have had him taken away – but Greg told them that it was okay – and the neighbors went into their house.
I watched Greg calmly and lovingly talk with the man – and at the end of the conversation when I opened the front door to see if I could hear anything – I heard him say to Greg, “you are my angel”.
Greg has always been a peacemaker. He has a hard time finding fault or anything negative in anyone. This is why he is an excellent grief counselor, a mastermind at working conflict when dealing with funeral details and a wonderful speaker. He speaks peace, love and acceptance wherever he goes.
Last night could have been a real tragedy, a man in trouble, lost and inebriated - being hauled off with the authorities – but it was quickly and quietly turned around – as Greg stepped in and spoke peace and comfort – helping this man feel accepted and loved and helping him find his way home.
I thought about this after I witnessed this unfold before my eyes. There are two types of people. Those who welcome and stir up trouble – making it worse – or those who come into a situation calm and accepting – bringing peace into the crisis.
Help me Lord to be a peacemaker in any and all situations threatening to rock my world. Help me to think clearly and to love and accept lost and dying people without judgement. Help me bring peace to my neighborhood.
God Bless
