Can Jealousy Kill a Friendship?

Absolutely.

This has been a tough week for me.  I have a good friend who is a lot of fun.  She is someone with whom I have laughed at many an off-color joke, and shared meals with.  We have gone to church together, been to each other's homes, and even work together.  This week she did something that stunned me.  She made a personal comment, not only to a coworker, but also to other people that I know outside our job.  This personal comment was so hurtful and so degrading to me that it threw me back and stunned me.  That is not easy to do.  I like to think that I can roll with the punches, and at this stage in my life, not too much actually surprises me.  But this sure did.  In the wake I was left wondering why.

It took another insightful person, more-or-less outside the situation, to point out that it was jealousy that was the driving force.  Once I heard that, it all made sense.  So, once again, I went back to my handy-dandy Bible to look it up.  There are a large number of references about jealousy in there.  And, a number of them refer to God himself.  "I am a jealous God... you will have no other Gods before me...I am jealous for Jerusalem and Zion... jealousy burns like a fire."  Something else that I noticed too, is that jealousy and anger seem to go hand in hand.  I gotta tell ya, they sure do in my case.  The anger that I have felt this week is beyond anything that I have felt in a long while.  It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling.  One that I do not like at all.

But I also noticed that with jealousy and anger, also comes repentance and redemption.  I think that it would take a force and a being much greater than myself to get us past where we are right now.  I just happen to have that force in my life, and I lean on Him every day.  His name is God.  Tomorrow marks a very special week for our friendship, His and mine.  Let's see where He takes me this week, and beyond.  I still have lessons to learn, and things to experience in life.  I'd like to thank Him for walking with me all of my life.  I don't know what it feels like to live without You, and I don't even want to try.  Thanks for being the friend that has never hurt me.

Peace,




Lori

Until next time, enjoy!
Psalm 23:6 "...my cup overflows."

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Bionote: Lori is the author of three business books, numerous church skits, and several articles. She lives in Sacramento with her two children, two dogs, and cat. She loves to hear from her readers, so please email your thoughts and questions.