Seventeen years ago, I moved into a lovely and distinctly southern home.

My friends mother in law owned the home. At the time, I was dating the nephew of the owner.

She didn’t want a lease from me – she gave me a rental amount due monthly, and I paid it on time every month.

We talked at the beginning about a lease to own, so I could buy the lovely home on the beautiful lot.

Nothing was on paper.

After dating her nephew for several months, we became engaged.

It was the end of April, and my kids had one more month of school.

The owner became enraged that I was getting married to her nephew. She came over one evening and told me to get out. I offered her double rent, just to make it through the school year for the kids. She refused, and essentially put a single mother and three kids on the street, with no time to make arrangements.

The irony was she was once a single mom. She knew the struggle. She had walked in my shoes.

My days as a poor single mom are still fresh in my mind. It’s part of what drives me to help others.

Her memory was short, though. She found another woman’s rich husband, and through her wiles and his lack of loyalty, he divorced his wife and married her.

She didn’t need my money. Despite my pleas on behalf of my kids, despite the fact I was marrying into the family, she threw us out.

Once again my mother found me emergency housing – a 1 bedroom furnished apartment close by.

We moved in, and I haven’t spoken to the homeowner since.

She just came across my Facebook feed, in a Mother’s Day tribute by her child.

I realized I still have bitterness towards her. I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrible.

Today I will pray and I will forgive her.

I know the reaping is going to come for her.

It’s not my place to collect the debt.

I have remarried a wonderful man, and we have 12 years behind us, and forever ahead to go.

I’ll concentrate on counting my blessings…