Love Your Enemies

I think the title of tonight's post pretty much sums up what the focus of the book's lesson was all about.

Over a month ago, I wrote about Jesus's request that we love everyone as our neighbor. I mentioned some "everyones" that I was going to need to work on a little bit. Here they are again:

-That driver that keeps trying to run me over on the interstate
-That hoity-toity person that keeps cutting in front of me in the line at the grocery store
-The haggler at the yard sale that offends me by offering $10 for something I paid $200 for
-The punk that sold me something for $200 that I only should have paid $10 for
-The chick that is wearing the same outfit better than me
-The other person that got the job I really wanted
-The bold-faced liar
-The thief
-The person that brags about himself all the time
-The bully on the playground who pushed my precious baby, and the mom that saw him do it and didn't say anything
-The person who unapologetically tramples over everyone and everything to get what they want
-A group of people who protest at funerals of military service members who have fallen in combat, and who make me ashamed that they proclaim to be a "church" (and a Baptist one at that.)
-Child molesters
-Child abductors
-Sexual abusers
-Murderers
-People who celebrate that planes crashed into buildings full of innocent people and are planting explosives and shooting guns at my husband and his buddies.

Again, there are still some on this list that I can't wrap my head around loving just yet, but here is the promise I make to try to act lovingly toward all the rest.

-To the driver that keeps trying to run me over on the interstate: I will move to the right lane, pull onto the shoulder, or do whatever it is you want me to do so that you can pass. I will not honk, I will not give inappropriate hand signals, and I will not scream out at you that you are a "stupid idiot."
-To the hoity-toity person that keeps cutting in front of me in the line: I will give up my place without giving you a dirty look or making a snide remark.
-To the haggler at the yard sale: I will offer to meet you halfway.
-To the punk that sold me something for more than it was worth: I will thank you in my mind for teaching me a life lesson and to be more cautious in future transactions.
-To the chick that is wearing the same outfit better than me: I will compliment you...and mean it.
-To the other person that got the job I really wanted: I will congratulate you...and mean it.
-To the bold-faced liar: I will not rub it in your face when the truth comes out, and support you when you are ready to tell the truth.
-To the thief: I will offer up my forgiveness, without you asking for it.
-To the person that brags about himself all the time: I will help you create a blog. (Because it's helping me!!)
-To the bully on the playground who pushed my precious baby, and the mom that saw him do it and didn't say anything: I will help your child if I see he is being bullied and I will be sure to punish my own child if they are ever the bully.

-And for the others, I'm not ready to commit yet. But if you ever do an injustice to me or anyone I love, I hope that I will pray for you-- a prayer that God will change your heart, and that you can experience forgiveness and freedom through Christ--because even though I don't think you deserve it, Jesus does. And He already paid the price for each and every sinner.