“To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.” Job 5:2 (GNT)
In 2000 when I had just started a new job as a CPS (Child Protective Services) social worker I was the focus of a rather ugly rumor. My co-worker announced in a group of other social workers that I had placed children in a home where there was a 290 registrant (sex offender). In fact, the opposite was true. When I had made the referral for placement, I had included the information that there was a 290 registrant in the extended family and that we would need to make sure he wasn’t in the home where the children were being placed.
Needless to say, I complained to my boss. It was especially important to me that my name be cleared because I was new. As far as I know nothing happened, but I did notice that they did not assign any of my cases to her for placement evaluation for quite some time.
But that is only the back story. I was angry and could barely look at her when we passed in the hallway. I remember telling my friends that I would dance when she retired. One friend thought I should confront her, but I was not willing to do that, partially because I knew she had a very sharp tongue and I figured that it would just prolong the situation. So, at first, I seethed. Then it turned into an ongoing resentment.
I knew the resentment was just injuring me so I began to pray about it. Now, I am a person who regularly struggles with resentment, so God had no easy task. However, over time, God softened my heart and healed me of that resentment. I felt a sense of peace and as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. It was an amazing rescue from my bad feelings. Praise the Lord!