Irregular People by B. J. Bassett

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44 NIV

When my daughter Melanie graduated from high school, my parents were divorced and married to other people. After graduation, we gathered at the house to celebrate. While my mother and her husband sat in one room, my dad and his wife sat in another. As the hostess, I didn’t enjoy myself because I was running back and forth from room to room, making sure my parents and their spouses were enjoying themselves. Their spouses were my irregular people.

Hopefully, I learned from the experience. I have a saying now that I didn’t have then. I don’t do drama.

All of us have irregular people in our lives. Sometimes we dread special occasions like holidays and family gatherings. During those times, we come face-to-face with insensitive relatives, who in the past, have crushed our spirit, neglected, or abused us.

God understands our pain. Many of His children in the Bible were irregular people. David had an affair, Noah was a drunk, Jonah ran from God, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, the list goes on and on.

There are books on how to handle irregular or dysfunctional people in our life by setting boundaries. I wish I would have read those books years ago.

Father, sometimes it is hard to love the irregular people in my life. I  need you to help me love them and pray for them. Thank You. Amen.

B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and speaker. Her books include a contemporary novel, Gillian’s Heart; a historical novel Lily; Sweet Charity; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story; and coauthor of a children’s devotional My Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000 copies sold.

As a contributing writer, publications consist of Writer’s Handbook 2000, The Writer, and The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a Healthy Home, Wolgemuth& Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.—consistently on Bookstore Journal’s Best-selling Christian Books List from November 1990 - February 1991, and voted the 10 Best Books for 1990 by Today’s Christian Woman.

Magazines, devotional booklets, curriculum and newspaper publishers include Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, The Quiet Hour, Pathways to God, Devotions, Harcourt Brace, WordAction, Gospel Publishing and Times Standard (newspaper).

She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life, but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published book.

Memberships: ACFW and Oregon Christian Writers (OCW).

She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea.