“Holding anger is a poison…It eats you from inside…We think that by hating someone we hurt them…But hatred is a curved blade…and the harm we do to others…we also do to ourselves.”
? Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Why do we always have to be the one to understand, to forgive, to be kind, to love? Why must we be the one to be good? Isn’t it unfair that we’re only the ones trying to treat other people in the right way?
Using our natural human instincts, we feel a certain tendency to think of fairness in this way of thinking. We’re trying so hard to be good; therefore, others should also do their part. If they don’t do their part, isn’t it only fair that we don’t do ours?
But what happens then when we follow this line of thought? Are we indeed better off by inclining to evil just because others are doing the same?
It isn’t only to the other person’s benefit that we are being called to do what is right. It is first of all for our own sake. We try to understand others because it is by doing so that we are able to lift the burden of hurt we’re carrying within us. We try to forgive because only in doing so can we be truly healed. We try to be kind because it makes our own souls beautiful. We try to love because only in loving can we find the true meaning and happiness we’ve been searching for.
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:19-21, WEB
Find hope in your darkest hour.
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2 replies on “Why Should I Be The One?”
This is beautiful, my father just died and during the process I thought to myself why isn’t anyone helping why are they being so ugly, why do I have to be so understanding shouldn’t I be mourning? But this is confirming that i did that I did do the right thing, by letting my light shine. Thank You for being a blessing.
It can be so tempting to see others doing wrong and think they should be “good” like we are, yet, we are all sinners. The blade we draw against our enemies might as well be plunged into our own hearts. We can stand up, without excuses, for our belief in God’s word, but we must approach our neighbor with His love and grace by our side.
Blessings, Joyce!