Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The brick

This morning, Kim and Owen came to our front door right before I took Maggie to school. They said that someone broke into the church last night.

The lady who broke into the church threw 2 bricks through the toddler room window. Then, she slept there and wrote a note on the bricks that she threw through the window. It said, "I'm sorry. I was tired and cold." Then, she signed her name.

She went into Steven's office and wrote a note apologizing again.

She was at the church when Tiffany got to church this morning. Tiffany thought that Steven was meeting with her. While Tiffany went to the church office, the girl went out the front door.

While Steven was meeting with the police, he remembered that he had a checkbook in his office. We keep it there sometimes in case we forget a check to write our tithes. Steven couldn't find the checkbook. We tried and tried to remember if the checkbook was still there or if we had run out of checks. We couldn't remember so Steven had to go sort it out with the bank today. He also had to go and have the window replaced.

And I "know" that the right thing is to feel sorry for her, but I honestly am having a really hard time with it.

This is the 3rd break in that we have experienced since we moved here. The first one was a break in to Steven's truck window.

Then, someone broke into my van window.

Now, the church.

Frankly, I'm tired of paying for broken windows.

I know that I should just be grateful that my family is safe and nothing has ever been stolen. It's just annoying.

So, I'm trying to feel something besides annoyance for the brick throwing girl. I have never felt that desperation before so I can't fully understand what she was feeling.

I don't know how to neatly tie up this blog. Hmmm.....how about "hurting people hurt people"?

Or "it is what it is"?

Nah, I hate both of those phrases.

3 comments:

Brynn said...

It's ok to be annoyed when someone destroys your property, Beth. It a violation of your property and your personal boundaries. You need to "own" your feelings. Then you can only move forward by forgiving her. Say, "Amanda, what you did was wrong. You could have met your cold and tired needs in a more constructive manner. But I forgive you."

Or we could just do our best to arrest her ass and squeeze her for every dime she owes us.(Pardon my language- cussing is fun sometimes.)

Bug said...

I know: Put up a sign that says: If you are thinking about breaking in because you are cold and tired, CALL US first. We'll be glad to let you in. And Brynn, cussing is not fun SOMETIMES....it's fun ALL THE TIME!!!!
Feinis,
Memaw

Word verification definition:
Feinis - To finish destroying a fiend!!!!

The K. Morgan Crawfords said...

AUGH, Beth, my heart goes out to you. When a crime has been committed against you I think it's natural to want to be "OK" with it, feel sorry for how desperate that person was, be grateful that in the end you had the necessary resources to make the situation right. But then it hits hard because it's such a personal attack on your life, your things, your sense of safety and security. We were the victims of several petty crimes in Las Vegas. Nothing life shattering but cost us money, time, and created a sense of fear. No one wants to live with a sense of fear, just waiting for the next THING to happen. When stuff like this happens, I wish we lived in Singapore and people could be lashed publicly for their "petty" crimes. Maybe then they would be more hesitant to break laws.