“But to you who are willing to listen I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” 

Luke 6: 27, 31

The last part of this verse depicts the golden rule and is a philosophy that holds meaning in my life. The daily news or current events can challenge this philosophy and result in feelings of anger, resentment, and revenge. However, we all know God teaches us and encourages us to choose love, kindness, and understanding.

I chose this verse because it has helped me process my emotions over the last few years.

Kindness and understanding are two values that I have always deemed important in my life, but have been challenged as of late. The COVID-19 pandemic was definitely a contributing factors, but I believe events such as the civil unrest and capitol riots were tragedies that strongly affected my emotions. I started to recognize that I was pushing my normal values aside and becoming more irritable at sporting events, criticizing or critiquing people harshly, and generally becoming less happy on a daily basis. My family and friends always grounded me and kept me grateful, but life was more of an emotional struggle. This struggle was something new to me as I have been blessed for many reasons and always considered myself a happy person.

My path was corrected with the help of prayer and trust in God’s teaching. Listening to messages at church, being involved in my sons’ confirmation classes, and reading devotional messages have guided me back to normalcy. These actions helped me to remember what is important and to emphasize what Jesus’ life taught us. If you remember, Jesus sought out tax collectors, sinners, and those less fortunate because they needed him most. We should love our enemies and do good to others even if they are hurtful to us. These are the people who need us the most.

Dear Lord, Please guide us in doing good for ourselves and to others. Help us approach others with kindness, love, and understanding to the best of our abilities. Amen.