Tags
anger, argument, christianity, family, fight, forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, god, hate, jesus, life, love
Hate is such a terrible thing. Whether it be all-around disgust with someone, or simply a hateful word, something about the negativity required to produce hate just chips away at one’s soul. It is sad that in this world that already has so much pain, we somehow still find it necessary to add to the pile.
God calls us to love Him first, and people second, but both before ourselves. This is clear to me. He also calls us to forgive someone seventy times seven times. This is clear to me. What is not clear to me is if ignoring someone can be called forgiveness. Do I need to actively be a part of this person’s life when all I have received from them is hostility? I have a hard time thinking my God would want that. Forgiveness has been given, but when the anger from the one you forgive continues, sometimes you must walk away to prevent hurting them, or allowing them to hurt you further. So far, my stream of consciousness is making sense and clearing my head.
The troubling part is when this person is supposed to be family. Family is a gift – the greatest gift, I think, we receive besides Christ Himself. Some people throw family around as if they will always be there so it doesn’t matter how they are treated, and still others ignore their family for whatever reason. I have heard people say, “Well, then, you are no longer a part of my family,” so nonchalantly that I simply don’t think they value family at all. How could you be in the midst of an argument and threaten to disown someone as a means to SOLVING a problem? In my eyes, that could only make a deeper, more painful problem that the one you claim you are trying to solve.
Perhaps one of the worst things I have seen hate do is disrespect. Disrespect has so many facets that many times we don’t give it the attention it deserves. Disrespect says, “I don’t give a shit about what you think.” While there are many types of disrespect, that which comes up in an argument can be the most potent because it is fueled by emotion. I have heard people bring up family members who have passed away, saying that the deceased would’ve thought _______________ about the opposing side. Can you imagine!? Taking the liberty to speak for the dead, while simultaneously using their passing as fuel for your petty argument? That is beyond words.
Remember that we are all born with the wrong focus: ourselves, and in order to receive the blessings available, we must fight this initial focus and attempt to care about others, even if they won’t accept it. While doing this, we cannot get caught up in their negative feelings, but instead relish those that we love who also love us back.
Obviously, our world is not a perfect place. There is so much beauty and love available, but twice as much is rejected as is accepted. Take a moment today to remember the important things; take a moment to actually smell the air as it enters your lungs, to hug someone that deserves it (or doesn’t!); take the time to put out more love than you receive, and to repay hate with love, or at least happy ignorance.