whether it would create dissension in the community, with other young people feeling as though Katy was being given an unfair advantage. Because of the deacons’ concerns, she didn’t talk about school at the young people’s gatherings. So she didn’t believe she deserved their criticism.
Katy said,“Being jealous doesn’t give them the right to talk about me behind my back.” Hurt rose again as she thought about the others discussing her, calling her names, maybe even laughing at her. Her voice croaked as she added,“We’re supposed to go to the person who offends us and talk directly to them. Nobody’s done that.”
“Caleb did,” Aunt Rebecca said.
Yes, Caleb sure did.
And Katy hadn’t appreciated it at all. She frowned and folded her arms tightly over her chest. “But he didn’t do it
lovingly.”
To Katy’s surprise, Aunt Rebecca laughed. “Oh, Katy.” She shook her head, her eyes twinkling. “Boys Caleb’s age haven’t learned to be tactful. They just blurt things out. Especially when their egos are bruised, they can be hurtful.”
Katy nodded. For once, Aunt Rebecca was absolutely right. She’d given Caleb’s ego a big punch by refusing to go to the singing with him. And she was certain if she asked Caleb to define the word
tact,
he’d just stare at her with his mouth hanging open. She pictured it, and despite her feelingsa little bubble of laughter formed in the back of her throat.
Aunt Rebecca guided Katy to the coat pegs at the back of the store. “Even though Caleb didn’t go about it the right way, maybe it’s good you know how the young people feel. Being at peace with the members of the fellowship is important. Now that you know there is a concern, you can pray about the best way to address it.”
Katy paused in removing her coat. Her eyes flew wide. “Why should
I
address it? I’m not the one with the problem — they are.
They
were wrong to make assumptions about me and” — she searched for what Caleb would term a fancy word — “malign my character.”
Aunt Rebecca pursed her lips, no doubt disapproving of the rebellion in Katy’s voice. “What does it say in Proverbs nineteen, verse eleven?”
Katy pressed her memory, but she couldn’t retrieve the verse.
Aunt Rebecca quoted,“‘The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.’” She looked directly into Katy’s eyes, and her usual bossy tone emerged. “You have no control over anyone’s behavior but your own. Getting angry will distance you further from the young people in the fellowship. Is that what you want?”
At that moment Katy wanted to be as far as possible from Caleb and the others, but deep down she knew the reason their comments hurt so much was because she desired to be a part of their circle of friendship. She shook her head slowly.
Aunt Rebecca sighed. “As hard as it might be for you,someone must take the steps needed to restore peace. It would be to your glory to pass over the transgression and work to make things right again.”
The little bell above the door
ting-a-linged,
signaling the arrival of a customer. Aunt Rebecca leaned forward and whispered,“You pray for the opportunity to speak with the young people, Katy, and I’ll pray they are receptive.” Then she whirled around and bustled over to the customer. “Mrs. Gebhardt! Good morning. What can I do for you today?”
Katy placed her coat on a peg and then slipped through the curtained doorway into the storage area in back of of Aunt Rebecca’s shop. She climbed onto one of the tall stools next to the sorting table and rested her chin in her hand.
Self-important.
The title stung.
But could it be even a tiny bit accurate?
Katy didn’t want to validate Caleb’s accusation, but she thought about her excitement over being chosen the sophomore attendant above all the other girls in her class. Even though she still wondered why the seniors had picked her — they’d never paid
Katy said,“Being jealous doesn’t give them the right to talk about me behind my back.” Hurt rose again as she thought about the others discussing her, calling her names, maybe even laughing at her. Her voice croaked as she added,“We’re supposed to go to the person who offends us and talk directly to them. Nobody’s done that.”
“Caleb did,” Aunt Rebecca said.
Yes, Caleb sure did.
And Katy hadn’t appreciated it at all. She frowned and folded her arms tightly over her chest. “But he didn’t do it
lovingly.”
To Katy’s surprise, Aunt Rebecca laughed. “Oh, Katy.” She shook her head, her eyes twinkling. “Boys Caleb’s age haven’t learned to be tactful. They just blurt things out. Especially when their egos are bruised, they can be hurtful.”
Katy nodded. For once, Aunt Rebecca was absolutely right. She’d given Caleb’s ego a big punch by refusing to go to the singing with him. And she was certain if she asked Caleb to define the word
tact,
he’d just stare at her with his mouth hanging open. She pictured it, and despite her feelingsa little bubble of laughter formed in the back of her throat.
Aunt Rebecca guided Katy to the coat pegs at the back of the store. “Even though Caleb didn’t go about it the right way, maybe it’s good you know how the young people feel. Being at peace with the members of the fellowship is important. Now that you know there is a concern, you can pray about the best way to address it.”
Katy paused in removing her coat. Her eyes flew wide. “Why should
I
address it? I’m not the one with the problem — they are.
They
were wrong to make assumptions about me and” — she searched for what Caleb would term a fancy word — “malign my character.”
Aunt Rebecca pursed her lips, no doubt disapproving of the rebellion in Katy’s voice. “What does it say in Proverbs nineteen, verse eleven?”
Katy pressed her memory, but she couldn’t retrieve the verse.
Aunt Rebecca quoted,“‘The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.’” She looked directly into Katy’s eyes, and her usual bossy tone emerged. “You have no control over anyone’s behavior but your own. Getting angry will distance you further from the young people in the fellowship. Is that what you want?”
At that moment Katy wanted to be as far as possible from Caleb and the others, but deep down she knew the reason their comments hurt so much was because she desired to be a part of their circle of friendship. She shook her head slowly.
Aunt Rebecca sighed. “As hard as it might be for you,someone must take the steps needed to restore peace. It would be to your glory to pass over the transgression and work to make things right again.”
The little bell above the door
ting-a-linged,
signaling the arrival of a customer. Aunt Rebecca leaned forward and whispered,“You pray for the opportunity to speak with the young people, Katy, and I’ll pray they are receptive.” Then she whirled around and bustled over to the customer. “Mrs. Gebhardt! Good morning. What can I do for you today?”
Katy placed her coat on a peg and then slipped through the curtained doorway into the storage area in back of of Aunt Rebecca’s shop. She climbed onto one of the tall stools next to the sorting table and rested her chin in her hand.
Self-important.
The title stung.
But could it be even a tiny bit accurate?
Katy didn’t want to validate Caleb’s accusation, but she thought about her excitement over being chosen the sophomore attendant above all the other girls in her class. Even though she still wondered why the seniors had picked her — they’d never paid
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