Enemy-I love you

Today started out like any other day.  Josh and I left the house for church a little early because we needed to get some gas or else we wouldn't have made it to said church.  (You see...I have this bad habit of letting the gas light come on.  Bad Mely!).  So, we hopped into our trusty rouge, I cranked up the AC and we headed over the river to get some gas.  I jumped...okay, okay, waddled, my way out of the car and into the gas station.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw something that I tried to ignore.  My enemy standing talking to her mom.  I know it's hard to believe that a sweet girl (eh hem) like myself has an enemy...but um yes... I sure do.  I tried to ignore my peripheral vision and shake off what I saw.  I can't explain what happened next other than I was taken over by an alien.  You'll never believe what I did.   I turned my head and made eye contact with my enemy's mom.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING MEL??? Were the thoughts running through my head....along with...pretend you don't know her..faint...run out of the door yelling fire, fire, fire!!  Do anything but make eye contact.  Well,  I make eye contact...and...I actually said..."Hello."

Gulp.

Not only did I say hello..but I smiled when I did it.  Upon this friendly hello and smile with mom of my enemy, my enemy turned her head my way.  SOS. SOS. SOS.  I felt like the fire whistle in town started to go off inside my head.  What now I thought to myself, what now?

The coolest thing happened.

I felt love for my enemy.

WHAT?

what?

What?!

Not only did I feel love for my enemy, I moved closer to her and started a conversation.

I'm sure you are wondering how on earth this woman became my enemy.  I'll save you the gory details and just say that she did something to Josh and I that caused much heartache.  We tried to talk with her to have reconciliation....but she declined.  We tried several times.  This was over 2 1/2 years ago.  At first I avoided her.  When I saw her, I'd do an about face and go the other way.  I wouldn't go to places that I thought she might be.  This situation had a hold of me in ways that only God could heal.  Josh and I prayed so much for healing.  It didn't feel like anything was changing in my heart.  I had to keep forgiving her over and over.  I came to learn that this was part of the forgiveness process.

Circumstances eventually changed and I stopped seeing my enemy as much.  Sigh of relief. Phewwwwww.  I was glad I didn't have to deal with THAT situation anymore.

Until today.

I wasn't expecting it.

Out of the blue.

Enemy-I love you.

I looked at her with new eyes.  I realized that she was just as unsure as I was when we were talking this morning.  She was kind to me though, and I to her.  She asked how we were and I told her about Emmalyn coming soon.  She rejoiced with me.  As I turned to part I saw her for what I was too.  A flawed person who doesn't always handle things correctly.

My enemy may never cross my path again, but I knew that we both needed this morning.  She needed to know that we were okay and I needed to see that she was too.

I got in the car and thanked God for the healing that He had done on my heart.  I didn't think it was possible, but it really is with His help.

Enemy-I love you.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44