Misunderstood

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We praised God that all our luggage arrived as intended to the 3rd orphanage we visited. This was a miracle. We knelt and thanked God for His providing free safe transport to this intended destination. After she led out in the evening prayers with the orphans, I asked the lady leading the orphanage if it would be fine to give out prizes to the orphans at ten o'clock the next  morning, I would have things sorted  by then. She agreed to this plan. Her eyes sparked in anticipation for the joy her orphans would have.

I could hardly wait. My children and I had gathered these things and worked so hard to get them ready to give to the children. The children were all aware of the blessings to come by ten AM. I spent hours into the night digging through all my bags of things my church had prepared for these children. Back home the weeks and months of preparation for this event seemed endless but we expected to see the sparkles of their joy and that would be reward enough.

At the last orphanage, I had given Jenny and Shalise and Barbara the   fun of helping distribute our gifts. The gathering of these items was not done by Barbara and Shalise anyway. This time, it was the boys turn. The sizes of clothing were their own. Many of the clothes they had willingly given up. Some of these things were their favorite shirts and things.

I went without breakfast that morning for I had just a few things left to be ready for the ten o'clock promise. I could see the children gathering excitedly. I dared not disappoint them and be late for this important gift giving time. I saw staff members guiding them into place. 
When I appeared at ten o'clock, they politely asked if I wanted to eat first. I know how children get excited. My own just hate waiting when promised a certain time. I just could not make them wait. I was eager also to see their joy. Remembering the delight at the last orphanage, I was ready to make these children know they were loved too.
They surprised me by saying Bible texts for me before I gave them anything. I listened and enjoyed their memory work then handed out gifts. I had planned for their memory work to be recited after I gave out the general gifts. Oh, well. Their happy smiles did not disappoint me. The boys were thrilled to be included. My oldest son really enjoyed helping to give things out.
When it was all finished, I wondered if we could enter into some innocent childish games like we did at the last orphanage. I asked my children if they would like to start splashing water and see if we could have water play like we did in Russia and in the last orphanage. We splashed each other but the children ran from us in fear. Suddenly there was a terrible misunderstanding. Trouble started with a capital T. We asked for forgiveness and gave  money to pay for the extra water we had used. We prayed and spoke softly but nothing seemed to help. It was demanded that the children return all their gifts to me. They sadly obeyed. God saw it all. We have forgiven but had to leave sadly with the larger gifts we had intended to give.

Jesus says how to deal with misunderstandings. He asks us to pray, speak softly and do all we can to bring peace. Sometimes this does not seem to do any good.  Jesus wants us to forgive, to pray a blessing on them, and to love them anyway. Love is not selfish and does not change. Love from heaven does not depend on whether you get praise or not. Love from heaven does not change into anger or rage if it is misunderstood. Like Jesus, we keep on giving and loving.  

Have you, dear reader, ever been misunderstood?  Jesus will give you the wisdom in what to say and how to act. (James 1:5) Though it is very painful, Jesus can make good come from it.
I have told this story without mentioning any names or pictures. The point of telling the story is to look at how Jesus says to deal with times we are misunderstood.

"True, heaven-born love is not selfish and changeable. It is not dependent on human praise. The heart of him who receives the grace 
of God overflows with love for God and for those for whom Christ died. Self is not struggling for recognition. He does not love others because they love and please him, because they appreciate his merits, but because they are Christ's purchased possession. If his motives, words, or actions are misunderstood or misrepresented, he takes no offense, but pursues the even tenor of his way. He is kind and thoughtful, humble in his opinion of himself, yet full of hope, always trusting in the mercy and love of God. {COL 101.3}
The apostle exhorts us, "As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15, 16. The grace of Christ is to control the temper and the voice. Its working will be seen in politeness and tender regard shown by brother for brother, in kind, encouraging words. An angel presence is in the home. The life breathes a sweet perfume, which ascends to God as holy incense. Love is manifested in kindness, gentleness, forbearance, and long-suffering. {COL 102.1}
The countenance is changed. Christ abiding in the heart shines out in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The sweet peace of heaven is revealed. There is expressed a habitual gentleness, a more than human love." {COL 102.2}

As those who have spent their lives in the service of Christ draw near to the close of their earthly ministry, they will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to recount the experiences they have had in connection with the work of God. The record of His wonderful dealings with His people, of His great goodness in delivering them from trial, should be repeated to those newly come to the faith. God desires the old and tried laborers to stand in their place, doing their part to save men and women from being swept downward by the mighty current of evil, He desires them to keep the armor on till He bids them lay it down.  {AA 574.1}

    In the experience of the apostle John under persecution, there is a lesson of wonderful strength and comfort for the Christian. God does not prevent the plottings of wicked men, but He causes their devices to work for good to those who in trial and conflict maintain their faith and loyalty. Often the gospel laborer carries on his work amid storms of persecution, bitter opposition, and unjust reproach. At such times let him remember that the experience to be gained in the furnace of trial and affliction is worth all the pain it costs. Thus God brings His children near to Him, that He may show them their weakness and His strength. He teaches them to lean on Him. Thus He prepares them  AA 373

Psalms 76:10 Even the wrath of men can praise the Lord, and what is left over, He will restrain.