Forgive me, Sir

This morning I took the dog with me as I walked the kids to the bus stop.  After the bus left, I decided to walk around the block with Maxx.  Thankfully I remembered to grab a bag as I thought he might have a poop in him.   Well 1/4 of the way around he needed to take a dump.  I had the trusty bag ready to clean it up.  Lucky me, as it is also trash day.  After I cleaned it up, I proceeded to throw the wrapped poop bag into the nearest trash can.  

The lid had not even shut when a man came storming out of his house telling me I needed to take the bag out of his garbage.  WHAT?!?!?  I was utterly confused and astonished.  I asked how it was wrong but received no answer to my question just that I had a garbage can at my house I could use.  I took the poop bag out and asked for his forgiveness.  Said it would not happen again.  To which he replied he would be watching.  

My first thought upon walking away was - he will get his.

My second thought was  - he must be a miserable man with a sad life.

My third thought was - he needs prayer.

I am not proud of the fact that it wasn't my first thought but thankful nonetheless for the lesson God taught me.

I did right by asking for forgiveness and now it is on him to be forgiving.  While I don't think I did anything wrong, I know asking was the correct thing to do.  It is so difficult for us to not seek out support from others when we feel we have be wronged.  We want validation for our actions.  Want people to side with us over the wrong committed.  However, the more I thought about the interaction the more I recognized the need to pray for this man.  So I did.  Now I ask God to help me not have such a vengeful heart.