I have been all over this website asking prayer for our son who, according to a prophet we sat under last week, was "stolen" from us. The prophet spoke in veiled terms but it bore witness in both my and my husband's spirits that he was speaking about our son. He said the "property" had been returned by God and the deal would be "finalized" within thirty days. Our son came home for Christmas and has chosen to stay. BUT, the family members that he was living with, who were trying to turn him against us, are coming tomorrow for a visit with my parents. As of this morning the woman has e-mailed me to try and arrange a "play-date" for our younger children. After everything that has happened, we are not comfortable with them in our home (in the past every visit included them staying with us for a few days too). I really need some advice on how to handle this. My husband and I are still working on forgiving them for the brutal, behind our back attack. It feels like opening the door and inviting in a snake, actually.

This is a sensitive situation. You risk an opportunity for them to slander you again if you are not hospitable, though.

If you feel that having them over is definitely going to end in disaster, then don't do it. If you feel that it will be a trial, but one that you can make it through, then have them over and put them to shame by being unexpectedly loving.

Wow!! Thank you so much!! I hadn't even considered the possibility that being unhospitable would place new weapons in their hands. I really do not want them around my son, but I know they are bringing some of his things he left at their home and so we will have to see them at some point. We are just very uncomfortable with the prospect. Although we are working hard on forgiving them, there is still the trust issue we are dealing with. Thank you for giving me more insight and some real direction!

Hi exo152 -

Will they be at your home for a few days again or is this a day visit? If the latter, is there a way for you to arrange activities or a visit to other relatives/friends/neighbors for your sone while they are visiting so that they aren't around your son but are able to see your parents and are able to drop off the items?

I've not been on the site for a while so don't know the details of your situation but if it is new in that the wounds are fresh, having them around your son might also do more damage than good for him. When we forgive, we leave the other party in the hands of the Lord and we move forward BUT that doesn't mean that we have to make ourselves vulnerable again to the party who caused us harm, especially if they haven't accepted responsibility for causing the pain and/or if they haven't demonstrated a heart of repentance. It's appropriate that you are still dealing with trust issues, please balance being hospitable with being discerning. You have the right to protect your home and family, while it is appropriate to be hospitable while they are at your home visiting your parents, you should not feel obligated to have them in your home for an extended period nor should you feel obligated to have the children play together - that does indeed feel like opening the door to snakes, i.e., spirits of divisiveness, conflict, control, etc. You set the new boundaries of what an acceptable visit looks like, please don't feel obligated to allow it to occur in the manner it has in the past....

Thank you!! That was indeed a word from the Lord to me. They will be visiting my parents, who live about 30 miles away from us. After praying this morning I simply e-mailed my relative and told her what our schedule was for the upcoming week, basically very busy. I left it up to her if she wanted to pursue a visit. She didn't offer, just me know if we had a break during the week, the children would love some play time.
There has been no repentance, especially on her part. Her husband did apologize, stating a misunderstanding. But there has been no fruit of repentance shown, just words. We have forgiven them, and I would greive if something bad were to happen to them or their children. But at this time I really do not want them in my home or around any of my children. There is very much a controlling, manipulative spirit involved there. To the point that I have even felt guilty about not having them over while they are "in town".
Thank you again, your words confirmed what I was feeling in my spirit.

Yea, praise God!