Loving your Enemies

It really stinks that we have to have people in this life that we don't get along with. Even the word "enemy" sounds so severe as it rolls off the tongue. I would rather spend my days thinking about the things I love most in this world; my husband, kids, and some good dark chocolate, but God must have known we were going to have our share of people step into our lives that would push our buttons for one reason or another, and luckily gave us some good instructions on how to deal with such people. Even more lucky for me is an everyday miracle that always seems to come to mind when I encounter an "enemy" in one form or another.

Before I became a full time mommy I taught fourth grade. Fourth grade (in my mind) is the perfect age to teach. Too old to have tie shoes and too young to get the sassy mouth, on most days. Of course in every class you have some strong personalities and unfortunately some teasing that coincide on some not so perfect days. This happened one day with a boy and a girl in my class who had never gotten along particularly well, escalating to the point that notes were sent home, feelings were hurt, and I was still wondering how/if the issue would resolve itself the next day. I was prepared for more counseling the next morning, and planning on a class meeting to help smooth over the argument from the day before and to make sure it didn't ruin a second day of learning and a happy classroom environment.

As the two entered my classroom the next day I said a prayer that all would go well. Little did I know that God was about to use the lesson a set of parents taught their daughter the night before to help not only "A," but the 25 others of us in that room learn first hand about loving your enemy, a lesson I will never forget.

The girl walked over to A's desk, pulled out some activity books she had brought for this boy, along with a new set of pens, and a picture she had drawn for him. "A" looked at "J" with a look I will never forget. His eyes grew soft and an innocent smile came across his face. I think I had to look twice to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me as they hugged.

Thank God I was blessed enough to have in my class a set of parents who go by the same rule book as I do and had taught their child the best way to deal with an enemy, better than any class meeting would.