Have you ever seen a hornets nest? They are the strangest looking, most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen an insect make and they can get really big. We had one several years ago in a tree a few feet from our front door. It was really weird because as big as it was, we didn’t see it right away. We just happened to notice what looked like a face in our tree. Creepy!
It looked something like this:
Doesn’t it look kind of look like a face screaming in the tree! It was freaky. So what do you do when you have a hornets nest in your tree? It was really big and my husband is not a big fan of bees so we called an exterminator. I was really curious about how the exterminator was going to deal with it, but he told me to stand back. He then went to his truck and got a stick. When I saw that, I thought “are you kidding me??” I went up on my front porch where I could still see, but had an escape. He took the stick and poked the nest, and then ran like a little girl to his truck. The hornets were swarming everywhere. I of course ran into the house. I peeked out the living room curtain and I saw him in his truck on the phone. I guess he wasn’t an expert in hornets nests and was getting some advice. He came out of his truck with a can of spray that had a really far reach. He was able to stand back and he sprayed the heck out of the nest. The hornets eventually either flew away or died and he was able to take the nest out of the tree.
So why a story about our hornets nest? Well, I guess because I feel like I’m poking the Christian community with a stick. I’m tackling a subject that can be touchy in the church. And I guess I just want to put it out there that I am totally for Big “C” church…meaning the Body of Christ…not just my home church. I feel like I’m being led to write this blog to reach out to the church and let people know that sometimes the way some Christians handle this subject is very hurtful. There have been times that I’ve been with friends or in a Bible study where someone would say that “gay people are freaks”, or that “God should strike them all dead”, or it didn’t matter what their own sin was…”they could never forgive that sin”. Well, all I can say is I’m glad they aren’t God (smile). None of these people knew that my son was gay… and they were part of the reason I didn’t tell most people. It was like being sprayed with judgement and if my faith wasn’t strong… I would have left the church like the bees left their nest. When they said those things, they were talking about my son. I was listening to those comments and then going home and some nights staying up all night with him so he wouldn’t kill himself because he didn’t want to have those attractions.
I forgave those people because I knew it came from a place of ignorance; they didn’t really understand what it was like… how could they? I’m not here to debate. I know what the Bible says and my son does too for that matter. I’m here to share my story in hopes that it will help other parents who may be going through the same thing.
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Why…because love matters.
Love Matters 
L, you have found your voice—I am so proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love,
D
🙂
Why did you stay with a church where people told you these things?
Clare that is a great question. Thank you for asking it! I realized a long time ago that there is no such thing as a perfect church. They are all filled with imperfect people :-). Not all of the comments came from members of my church…some were friends that I have that are Christians. Believe me the comments stung a lot and my first reaction was anger. God spoke to me in those moments and showed me that their comments came from ignorance, and if I’m asking not to be judged by this situation, I don’t want to judge others if they have a different view then mine. I feel like there is a lot of misunderstanding in the church on this issue, and that is why I feel like He has called me to write this blog.
Lesa, my heart aches for you and your son. People who judge and say these things are hypocrits. Have they never looked in a mirror and seen their own failings? “Who am I to judge??” should be the first reaction of a Christian. I hope those who have said those things read this and check their hearts, because the things that were said do not come from Christ.
Thank you for your kind comment Janice. I hope my words encourage people to think before they speak. I pray I can somehow convey what it’s like to go through this so that some healing in the church can take place. I love the church and I think it grieves Jesus that this is how we treat each other.