"I don't like you...I don't know why, I just don't." I was approached by someone and they spoke those words to me. I was dumbfounded, totally caught off guard! My first thought was "what have I done?!" Well, they answered my thought, "you haven't done anything to me...I just don't like you!" For the life of me, I could not understand why a person would dislike someone that's done nothing to them...but these were their feelings and they were entitled to them.
My mother has taught me many lessons, but I keep two of them before me continuosly. #1 stay humble and #2 apologize, even if you feel/know you've done nothing wrong. Although I was bothered by the approach, I decided to apologize. I wanted to apologize, just in case. Maybe I had done something or said something unaware that was offensive to them, so I apologized...and I meant it. My apology was accepted, but I would soon find out that it was for naught.
Soon after their confession and my apology, my name was slandered. I went through years of persecution...because this person didn't like me! I was humiliated, embarrassed, hurt, discouraged. This was HARD for me. I'm a fighter by nature and now I'm "saved" so I can't use my fist...and I can't cuss (yes, cuss) them out either?! Jesus, don't take the wheel...take this entire vehicle!
Abel...he had a brother named Cain. Cain, hated his brother Abel basically for no reason at all. They both had the opportunity to do what was right, but Cain refused. God not only watches their actions, He watched their hearts as well. He saw Cain's heart, blackened, evil, hateful toward his brother. God knew what was up the road. Just as this person spoke with me, Cain spoke with his brother Abel...and slew him. When asked by God where his brother Abel was, Cain responded "am I my brothers keeper?"
I wasn't murdered or wounded physically by this person, but I was bleeding emotionally. I was wounded by words...yes, words do hurt you! God sought vengeance on behalf of Abel, his blood cried out to God, and God answered. Don't fight back, don't seek revenge, don't hold grudges against those that have offended you. Forgive them, I'd challenge you to even apologize to them, and then leave the vengeance in God's hands.
I learned a valuable lesson...some people "know not what they do."
My mother has taught me many lessons, but I keep two of them before me continuosly. #1 stay humble and #2 apologize, even if you feel/know you've done nothing wrong. Although I was bothered by the approach, I decided to apologize. I wanted to apologize, just in case. Maybe I had done something or said something unaware that was offensive to them, so I apologized...and I meant it. My apology was accepted, but I would soon find out that it was for naught.
Soon after their confession and my apology, my name was slandered. I went through years of persecution...because this person didn't like me! I was humiliated, embarrassed, hurt, discouraged. This was HARD for me. I'm a fighter by nature and now I'm "saved" so I can't use my fist...and I can't cuss (yes, cuss) them out either?! Jesus, don't take the wheel...take this entire vehicle!
Abel...he had a brother named Cain. Cain, hated his brother Abel basically for no reason at all. They both had the opportunity to do what was right, but Cain refused. God not only watches their actions, He watched their hearts as well. He saw Cain's heart, blackened, evil, hateful toward his brother. God knew what was up the road. Just as this person spoke with me, Cain spoke with his brother Abel...and slew him. When asked by God where his brother Abel was, Cain responded "am I my brothers keeper?"
I wasn't murdered or wounded physically by this person, but I was bleeding emotionally. I was wounded by words...yes, words do hurt you! God sought vengeance on behalf of Abel, his blood cried out to God, and God answered. Don't fight back, don't seek revenge, don't hold grudges against those that have offended you. Forgive them, I'd challenge you to even apologize to them, and then leave the vengeance in God's hands.
I learned a valuable lesson...some people "know not what they do."