Parents, love your enemies, it will drive them nuts! I have spoken of my collegiate cheer coach in another post (https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPMcG/posts/10156136400307185). He is an impressive man with a winning personality and he always treats people well. During football games and in cheer competitions, he always honors, serves and shows respect to the opposing teams and rivals. It never mattered how intense the rivalry, he always acted like himself and treated other people well. He always welcomed the opposing teams, encouraged them, valued their strengths and learned from them. He would do anything he could to make their experience better whether or not he agreed with them about who should win the game. He was like the classic 1971 Coke commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VM2eLhvsSM), he would always provide refreshments for the opposing teams’ cheerleaders, only without the brand manipulation and today would have provided some less sugary options. Most of us, attack those with whom we disagree. We quit acting like ourselves. We forget how to treat people civilly, we name call and demonize anyone who doesn’t share the same perspective as we do… it’s like we forget who we are and Who we belong to… it’s like all bets are off and completely lose our kindness and care for other people that God loves and values.
When Jesus came, He never forgot who he was or how it was like Him to act. He loves His enemies and died to save them… He said from the cross, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” When He was attacked, He kept on loving… when people were coming to crucify Him, he carefully replaced an ear lopped off of one of the guards by one of His followers. He tells us all, "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. Matthew 5:43-45 (MSG) We are never more like the One we are following than when we love our enemies. Jesus didn’t let the opinions, words, threats, abuse or accusations of others change Who He was or how He treated those around Him. Next time we feel threatened by someone we perceive as an enemy, I challenge us all to do like Jesus tells us… pray for them, give them your best self and love them. Many people won’t know what to do with your kindness, it will drive them crazy.
(P.S. TBH. There’s a part of me that is not really looking forward to the opportunity to practice this one…)
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for you all!
