Last week one day I stepped out of the house door just in time to witness an "attack". I knew right away that what I witnessed was only a portion of the fight.
I was just in time to see "T" lunging at "E", grabbing his arm and sinking his teeth deep into flesh....yeeow!
Upon further investigation, it became clear that "E" actually started it. You see, "E" wanted to see "T's" skateboard, so..... he pushed him.......that's about when I came out the door, saw the lunging bite, and hollered a halt to the negotiations. "You know "E", just because you want his skateboard, does not mean you may push him. We ask permission if we want something." ""T", just because he pushed you is no reason to "take a bite out of crime", or arms either. try doing something nice".
I had to think about a discussion we had several Wednesday evenings ago from 1 Peter:
1 Peter 3:8-12 : 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.10 For the Scriptures say,
"If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
11 Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
against those who do evil." NLT
How do you "pay them back with a blessing"? What situations in your life can you think of when you had opportunity to do that? So often we miss it! After all, he pushed me, and I have my rights, don't I? God has a better idea.
The hard part of it the other day in the yard was that kids are constantly picking on "T", and he plays into their hand by crying and wailing and causing trouble. Seems he probably has a bad case of FAS.... "E", on the other hand, has been quite a good kid, I thought. Now he has a nasty wound on his arm to remember his lesson by. It seems obvious in the yard with a bunch of unruly kids that they are making wrong choices. But it can be less obvious with adults sometimes. .....pay them back with a blessing.....hmmmm
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