Accepting the People I Cannot Change

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Sometimes, when I am struggling to love my friends and family, I think about what a HUGE task it is to love our enemies. We often do not use the word "enemy" too much these days, so let's take a moment to think about what Jesus was talking about when he said to love our enemies.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to pray for those who persecute us. Perhaps we have been wronged by someone, an organisation, a company, a family member. The point that Jesus is making here is that it is easy to love people who love us and are kind to us. But, it is harder to love people who treat us poorly. For me, I also find it hard to accept that I might not be able to change those people, in fact I probably won't be able to change them. The only person I have that kind of control over is myself.

It takes courage to change. But Jesus calls for radical change in the way that we think, the way we speak, and the way that we love. I had a friend once explain to me how they became an incredibly kind person, intentionally: she acted kind. It seems simple. but she explained to me that once it became a habit, she knew that it had worked. Now, she makes the kind and loving decisions without thinking. But to get there, she had to "fake it" for a while. God becoming flesh in the birth of Jesus shows us that we are holy, we are worthy, and we are part of God. With this knowledge, it is impossible to accept that we are doomed to be broken. What are some steps you can take to be more like Jesus? How can you love your enemy over this holiday season?

Matthew 5:43-48 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.