Visiting

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Proverbs 19:11

I'm a pretty slow tempered person (I think. Ask my husband and kids. I may be wrong.) I can't think of many people that I haven't been able to forgive. A few I've had to work at. A few I've agreed in my mind to disagree with. Basically I try not to take offense even if there might be grounds...

When Tetsu and I were married 30 years ago, Tetsu's family was surprised but they cheerfully accepted a foreigner becoming part of their family. I even lived with Tetsu and his mother the first couple months and she lived with us for a couple months a few years later. This didn't work out that great but I'd say we have a good relationship. I probably should go over to see Tetsu's mother more than I do...

Tetsu's older brother lives in another prefecture. We only see him once every three or four years. Tetsu's sister lives in the next town over but we only see her once a year or less. I don't know where the problem started but the siblings do not get a long all that well. I think the rest of the family feels that Tetsu has distanced himself from them. I certainly hope they don't think I'm responsible but they might. So this weekend, the brother and his wife came to visit Tetsu's mother but Tetsu had to work. Honestly I don't think he'd have gone even if he had been free. I had hoped to do some sewing after church but people are more important the projects so I went by myself to visit with the family instead.

I would like to say to all of them (including my wonderful husband),

"Let by-gones be by-gones. We are all getting up in years and it seems such a waste to hold grudges or be stubborn about some long ago hurt."

But I don't say my thoughts. The last thing I need is Tetsu getting upset with me for sticking my nose into business I know nothing about. I just sat and smiled and listened to family stories. I was a little concerned that Tetsu wasn't going to be happy about my even visiting, but he seemed very grateful that I'd made the effort and he asked about what was going on in everyone's life.

Relationships need work, don't they?

"Work hard at living in peace with others."

1 Peter 3:11