Floyd
Floyd
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. (Eph. 4:32)
Because of the close relationship my dad and mom shared, I didn’t think she would ever remarry when he died. But a couple of years after his death, she hastily tied the knot with a man she had only known a few short months. Needless to say, I was shocked. I guess I had underestimated the depth of Mom’s loneliness.
Mom and Floyd had a small wedding at the church where they met. My husband and I thought it was odd that none of Floyd’s family showed up, especially since he had two brothers and three of his four grown children living in the area.
We soon found out why. Floyd is one of those irritating, sandpaper people determined to bring everyone else around to his way of thinking. If you express an opinion that differs from his, he’ll launch into a lengthy retort on why he’s right and you’re wrong.
In the twenty-eight years I’ve known Floyd now, not much has changed. He’s still rude, opinionated, and full of bitterness. Mom is still passive and lets him have his own way, but I continually bite my tongue out of respect for her. I’ve prayed about my attitude and asked the Lord to help me to be patient and forgiving, but it’s been difficult. Yet, although I can’t control the way Floyd acts, I can control the way I respond to him. Every encounter with him is another opportunity to rely on the Lord and His strength.
No matter how unpleasant it may be, we will always have sandpaper people in our lives. When you encounter such a person, remember Jesus’ admonition to forgive “70 times seven” (Matt. 18:22).