Answer to Prayer

Yesterday I had the unpleasant experience of being greeted in an unexpected, insulting way. The other individual thought he was being funny. But instead of “Good morning,” I got a crude, sexist story. Fortunately, another friend noticed my predicament and rescued me. But I was left with a “bad taste in my mouth,” another word for a resentment. I just couldn’t get it out of my mind.

This morning in the Serenity Meditation (which I lead every Monday morning at Village Yoga), I asked God to guide me to the passage I needed. My fingers turned to Chapter 3 of Simple Serenity, entitled “Understanding: Gateway to Acceptance.” In the first paragraphs, I tell the story of difficulty I experienced with a person, until I understood what was driving his words and actions. Then, “full realization came that he is acting in accordance with who he is and what he struggles with, neither of which have anything to do with me. In other words, it’s not my fault, and nothing I can say or do will change him.”

With those words, I let go of my resentment. And I give thanks for good friends who see my distress and come to my rescue.

What do you do with resentment?