How do I pray for my neighbor who is angry with me? It's easy for me to forgive her, but how do I pray?

Question

I will tell you what happened, followed by my question:
Bella is my fifteen-month-old mixed-breed dog who is approximately thirty-five pounds. She has been spayed, wears an electric collar that contains her to our yard, and is up to date on all of her immunizations. Bella will be attending obedience training at a local Canine Academy as soon as there is an opening.
The person in question has a nine year old son (approx. age), who is a friend of my neighbor's son. This boy came into my yard to speak with his friend's father, who I was having a conversation with. Bella dashed after him and bit his calf. She did not break his skin, but he was terrified and so he cried quite a bit. I ran over as soon as I heard that he had been bitten and consoled the boy, inspected his leg, and took my dog into my house. Later the boy's mom knocked on my door, and was very angry. I am not a confrontational person, and I did "turn the other cheek". I didn't make excuses, but I apologized. More to come.

I am very, very saddened my this situation. My dog obviously needs behavior modification, which she will get, but I honestly I'm sad because humanity is so... awful. I do know that I reacted the proper way with her; I was soft-spoken, apologized sincerely many times, and didn't argue with her, even when she made some statements that weren't accurate. But she was so very angry, with so many threats accusations. I never actually met her; she didn't introduce herself or even ask me my name. I am not angry with her; I understand that she was upset that her child got hurt. I would be upset too, if my child got bit by a dog. I just wish that she took a moment to think about what she was saying. She seemed to have been misinformed; she thought that Bella chased her son into the street, but that wasn't the case. Anyway, enough case history. I don't want to come off as being a complainer or whiner. Here is what I need: advice on what to say when I pray to my Lord, Jesus Christ...

All I can think of right now is "Please, Lord, help her with her anger issue". But I don't really KNOW that she has an anger issue. I want something positive to come from this. Please give me guidance.

Answer 1

Father, you are God. Your Name is Holy, and You know all things. I ask that You look upon my heart that it should be right in Your sight, that my cares might be upon Your Son, even as He has commanded, that in truth I have forgiven those which have trespassed against me. Forgive me also my trespasses, that my prayer be holy unto You. Please help those which are angry with me to have peace, that they also might forgive me. In all things, Father, help me to do and to say, to accept and believe according to Your Will, that Your Will might be great in me, and upon the earth. Through Jesus Christ Your only begotten Son I ask these things.
Amen

Answer 2

I had an incident of same nature, my dog was tied up but parents were so upset.
I can't remember for sure but seems they sued me for the doctor bill and my household insurance paid it...or maybe we just settled but it was heartbreaking. However, there was no bitterness.
So, I have found that prayer is just getting into the Bible and start praying the promises you find there, or as David did on just about everything, agree w/the Bible and you will automatically start adding things on your mind and heart.
Just putting the Bible in front of you open will help. Just glance down and read some, pray, read, pray..
You might pray first for understanding, comfort, maybe that she will become a friend. Whatever. You have done the best you knew how already.
Whatever you pray, the Holy Spirit sees your heart and what you want/need to say, then carries it to the throne of G-d. It is a perfect prayer by the time it gets there.
Just turn it over to Him.
I will lift you and neighbors up to the L-rd also....

Answer 3

You should admit that you made a mistake. You didn't watch your dog properly. Even when your dog was in your property, you should have taken her away when the little boy was approaching to your yard, just as a precaution, because you are responsible for whatever your dog does. Ok, it's done, you can't change the past. But you can ask the Lord to forgive you for that mistake and also ask him to help you be more careful from now on, because you're so sorry for what happened to that little child.

Answer 4

I am glad Bella will be attending obedience training. Take a little gift to the boy and ask for forgiveness on behalf of the dog and yourself and let them know you are going to do something about the aggressive behavior of your dog. This was a very traumatic situation for the boy. Don't worry about how you pray. Worry about your actions. Your actions can be your prayer. Put yourself in the other mother's place.

Answer 5

Praying is just like talking. Pretend you are talking to a friend. It's the same thing. God does deserve more respect and praise, but there's a good place to start. If you are asking what to pray for, i would ask for the boy's leg to be healed, more control with the dog, and peace with each person involved. I would go on to talk about how i realize that God is in full control and I would pray for God to do what is in His will for each person. A lot of the times, God can make a lesson out of a situation like this. You may want to pray to learn something: how to talk about it calmly, how to take care of it....- close by saying it is in Jesus' name u ask these things of God- Because we have all sinned, we don't deserve anything, but because of Jesus and God's mercy, we deserve it all in Him. We need to make sure to give credit where credit is deserved when praying. (If not for Jesus, we couldn't pray and talk to God at all.)

i know it'll all work out well and i will keep you in my prayers. The more people praying, the more God will help. Hang in there, it'll get better!

Answer 6

Well, the mothers reaction is completely justified... her son was bit by your dog. The best you can do now is have proof ready that your dog is in fact healthy... so there are no concerns. Praying is not the answer here... just preperation. Be ready for her next visit, have the proof ready, but be understanding of this mothers anger and feelings about how your dog bit her son. I hope that she will be forgiving enough not to pursue actions that may involve putting your dog down, but it may be best to be ready for all possible outcomes. Talk to the mother again... and hope she is in a receptive mood.

Answer 7

Just realize that you can't controll your dogs actions 24/7. Reassure your neighboro that you are enrolling your dog in classes and until Bella is done with her training the child can't be allowed back into your yard without supervision of course until her training is complete. Ask her if she has any suggestions that would help the boy to not come into your yard until this time is set.

Answer 8

There are four easy steps to a prayer:
1) Address God (Heavenly Father, God, Father in Heaven, etc)
2) Thank Him for all he has given you.
3) Petition Him for your neighbor, yourself, peace in the world, etc.
4) If you are Christian you close "In Jesus' name, Amen." If not then just "Amen"

Answer 9

First, tell God thank you for allowing you to be able to have this situation and make the best of it unlike most people. Secondly, Pray for God to make his way into their hear and touch them and guide them, Have him, open your heart so when situations like these arrise you can give it the best approach possible and treat it in a Godly sprit....Think like God, and react like God, ask and it shall be given!

Answer 10

Things like this happen. Apologize to your neighbor again tell her you are very sorry. Tell god to help your neighbor forgive you and maybe if she doesn't believe in the lord ask the lord to help her believe in him. Hope all go well. God Bless!

Answer 11

Let me tell you, there is no right way to pray, do whatever comes naturally. Let your spirit speak out and reach out to god. He is always listening, so dont worry too much about the correct way to pray. No matter what, as long as you are sincere, its the right way as far as im concerned. =D