Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. - Romans 12:21
It was all sudden. I can't believe I'm leaving my boarding house and neighborhood of 8 years. From Manila, I moved to Quezon City due to a threat of demolition.
I honestly didn't like my new house. My old one was just way better. Nonetheless, I tried so hard to adjust with all the new things and I thought I somehow did.
I started to see the beauty of our cozy little room. The quietness that I long was there and I had a great sister-in-Christ as a companion. We sang and laughed together. Shared our learnings and craziness here and there.
Until one night, one of our housemates came rushing to our room with an angry spirit. She misunderstood my actions and reported statements. I was honestly scared, offended and hurt. But Daddy God's Word came to me in 2 Kings 6:21-22
21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”
22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
They gave food and drink to their enemy And it's like Daddy is asking me to do the same. "Talaga ba, Dad?". It took sometime for that to sink in and for me to submit and obey. After my shift that day, I bought her chocolate and grape juice. I wrote a note apologizing if I offended her in any way.
Things went well for days.
Until one Sunday evening, my roommate asked me to go near our housemates' room for she will talk to me. I was warned by Daddy God early that morning for I received another Word (Psalm 21:11 Although they plot against you,their evil schemes will never succeed.)
I prayed and prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit as I went near her room.
Then there were suddenly a series of accusations and harsh words.
She's accused me of damaging her shoes and blouse that I never saw. Ako lang daw ang gagawa ,teacher pa man din daw ako pero ganun ang ugali ko, ipapabaranggay nya daw ako (words that I never heard in my lifetime). I was in shock of how confident she is in making up up lies and stories. I was struggling not to respond in the same spirit. I was struggling not to raise my voice as I explain things and defend myself. I also caught myself saying "Daddy....Daddy...Daddy.." In the end I just said that if the goal of all this is for me to leave the house, I guess I will but I hope she will stop accusing me of things I can never imagine doing.
Disgust and fear started to creep in my heart. I started asking my lawyer and law student friend of what to do with slanderer and what to do once I'm called sa Baranggay. Inuhahan ko pa nga sya sa baranggay and asked kung paano magpa blotter and all. Hindi na din ako makalabas ng kwarto agad if I know she's around.
I started thinking that she will soon make up another story and accusations that could be damaging to my future. It even came to a point that I don't want to go home anymore.
But then as I asked Daddy what to do, He commanded me this time to do another unthinkable. He asked me to give her .... a flower.
Dad??? Are You serious? How can I?
I slowly realized that our lesson for the season is loving the seemingly enemy and hating the real one (the devil). He reminded me that the battle is not against my housemate but against the spiritual forces of the dark world. I started to pray and really desire for my housemate to know Jesus too for He is the only one who can heal her from within. I decided to forgive and I started to be concerned for her soul.
By His grace, I obeyed. I bought and left a peach rose with a note saying " I loved you with an everlasting love" -God near her room.
I'm not sure of what she really thought of or how it affected her when she received it but it was all by faith on my end.
Accusations didn't stop though and I think she still hates me. But what amazed me we' the lessons that Daddy taught me:
- Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romas 12:21
- A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
- God gives us that supernatural joy even in the midst of people treating us harshly.
- All that matters is obedience.
Here' s my final thought from all this:
How could God loved someone like me who's been an enemy of Him since the beginning? Someone so unlovable. Now, I can attest to the fact that it is just so hard to love an unlovable.
But He loved me anyway, He loved me anyway...the thought brought me to tears.
May He help me love anyway.
P.S.
Now, I'm out of that house but I still pray for Ate to personally know Christ one day. Pray with me.
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