Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Walking through a rose garden in San Diego, California, I noticed a rosebush that had more than one type of rose growing in its branches. The picture with this blog post is of two roses next to each other in the same rose bush.
I am not playing with the colors on your screen. This is not a test of how you see colors like the Twitter-craze about the black and blue or white and gold dress a couple of years ago.
I share this picture, instead, as a way of highlighting the diversity we are blessed and challenged with in community.
I am sure we have each been in a ladies’ Bible class and a sister who is also a part of that group seems to know how to push our buttons, get on our nerves, and disrupt the spirit of the class. It can be hard to understand how you can be in the same community of believers as that sister.
Honestly, God doesn’t like it either. It’s one of the seven things he hates in Proverbs 6:16-19 (“...and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” v. 19). However, it is not our place to add to the conflict, but rather to “kill them with kindness.” And, thankfully, God is patient and we are all a work in progress.
Romans 12:10, 17-21 says it much more eloquently:
Honor one another above yourselves...
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
How have you handled a situation like this? (Please do not share any names in your responses.)