Change = Challenge

So, there have been a few things in my life that I think I am just great at and then something in my life changes and I realize that no, I actually stink. This has happened recently. But first, I will have to tell of a time long ago. Back in the college days and early marriage, I thought I did not have a temper. I never got angry. I never yelled. If some one disagreed with me, I didn't argue back (I just thought they were stupid ;)). Then, Ruth turned 2, and BAM!! Ruth followed another family out of the library onto a busy road and the next thing I knew we were in the car heading home and I was yelling. I was down right angry with my little 2 year old. So, I found out that I did indeed have a temper. I am still working on this one. Hopefully, but not likely, I will get this one fixed in 10 more  months before I have a teenager. Now, fast forward 9+ years. At this point in time, I think I do a really good job at being nice to people who are not nice to me. I think that I am a really good neighbor and friend. I don't gossip. I cut down the bothersome tree. I make brownies for the neighbor that gets mad when my kid crashes her bike into their car. I never say anything grumpy to the condescending doctor. I don't get upset when my friends kid dumps out all of our toys and pees in them. I think I am pretty good. I think being of one heart and one mind isn't so hard. Then we move out near family, and spend a lot of time in other people's business and other people spend a lot of time in our business and suddenly, I gossip a little here and there, about people I care way more about than the grumpy neighbor. Someone says something to me that hurts my feelings and I am upset for several days. I want to say mean things back or not talk to them anymore or all of these ridiculous feelings I had never had before. Suddenly, I realize that I have a problem that I thought I didn't. So, now, like my temper, I have reached a new challenge in life. I need to learn to that if I hear intimate details about people I absolutely cannot gossip or judge that person. I think just walking away from conversations like that is a pretty good idea too. I need to learn to not be angry when I find out that other people have been gossiping about me. I need to shut up and not respond when people are saying things to me that hurt my feelings. I am determined to do better. And of course, I need to not judge people when they gossip or say something mean to someone else. I really do believe in Zion. I really do think we can live next door to people, family, and anyone else, and get along perfectly. I want it to be like that in my home, and I want it to be like that with our extended families and neighbors too.