A Different Mindset

There's been something on my mind lately, and it just keeps popping up. There's a saying that keeps surfacing in different ways that makes me think we're going about life the wrong way in how we handle those that "mishandle" us. It's been posted as a favorite quote on Facebook, passed around in email several times lately, and is even posted on my secretary's desk for her to focus on as she deals with the public. The saying goes "Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason...yada, yada, yada".

Now I don't want to preach a sermon here, but if we are true women of God then we should have a problem with this statement and I just want to bring that to light. Luke 6 tells us the following: "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

It's natural for us to want to return someones actions or comments with more of the same, but the Bible tells us we should treat them as we want to be treated (not as they've treated us). This is much easier said than done; we all know that from experience. We hurt when someone doesn't treat us with love, but that doesn't give us an excuse to mistreat them or dismiss them as if they don't matter. If we return love only to those who love us, we're no better than the lost. That's Bible! It takes much more to love those who don't show love to us, but we are to follow the example of the Most High and he was "kind to the ungrateful and wicked". I John 2:6 tells us that "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did". Well, how did Jesus walk? Did He only love those that loved Him? Absolutely not! Did He just forget about those that didn't treat Him right? Praise God He did not!!!

Like I said earlier, I'm not trying to preach or anything. I just have been bothered by this statement or way of thinking since I began seeing this comment pop up months ago. If you were one of the ones to post this as a favorite comment or you've circulated one of the emails, don't think this is intended to criticize in any way. That is not my intention at all. This is just something God has laid on my heart, and I wanted to share it with you all. I have been dealing with criticism/persecution lately (some very public), so the urge to "dismiss" those that are mistreating me is strong. BUT through the Word and the strength that God gives me, I can love those that persecute me and pray for them. Praying for them is actually the only way that I feel I can endure this trying time. I know that all of us go through times (probably daily) when we're mistreated and unloved by the world and we want to return those actions/emotions, but let us all remember the example of Christ to love our enemies, do good to those that hate us, and bless those who curse us!

I love each one of you and thank God for placing you in my life!!