It was a pleasant Saturday morning in Dewhurst, North Carolina, and the little town had come alive with activity. Buster and Raymond sat at their usual places on the old bench just outside of the barbershop. They were doing their weekly "people watching," an age long tradition performed by the fortunate two persons who arrived at the old bench first. They sat and discussed the weather, the school board, doctoring cows and growing tomatoes all the while keenly observing the folks that walked up and down the street. "There's Rudy Thomas," Buster said. "Wonder how he's getting along since his wife passed on?" Raymond asked as they watched Rudy go into the drug store. "Oh boy! Here comes the new preacher," Raymond said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Buster chuckled, "That feller is a sure 'nuff dude, look at them Patten leather shoes!" But before the two old men could get fired up with insults and wise cracks about the preacher, something caught Raymond's attention. "Buster, would you look at that," he said pointing with both hands to opposite ends of the street. Buster looked and saw Sally Johnson coming up from the south end of town. He then looked to the opposite end of the street and there was Lucy Vanhorn, Sally's sister-in-law. Raymond said, "This outta be good, them two old gals have hated each other since creation." The two observers watched as the women headed toward each other on a direct collision course. When the ladies finally noticed each other, Sally quickly and noticeably crossed the street and walked right in front of Buster and Raymond. Lucy watched her like a hawk and gave validity to the phrase "if looks could kill." "What happen to them two?" Raymond asked. "I don't know, but whatever it was it must have been bad." Buster replied.

Have you ever held a grudge? Maybe now there's someone with whom you've disagreed with and have never settled it. The New Testament teaches us that Christians should never hold a grudge but take care of conflict quickly (Matthew 18:15-20). Our forgiveness is a key to God forgiving us (Matthew 6:14-15). Many times, we let such situations go on for years without resolving them and wind up just like Lucy and Sally. Do you want to feel good today? Then let go of those old grudges by forgiving, loving and caring for your friends and family. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).