Oh gosh…this is a tough one.
Love your enemy. “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
I remember after 9/11, having a conversation with my brother. I don’t remember all of the details but I vividly remember him saying…
“I don’t know… I know God says to love our enemy and forgive but I don’t know if I can with this one.” I remember my instant response was “I know I can’t”.
Our father worked in NYC in 1 BT Plaza, a building across the street from the South Tower.
And he was in his office that horrible day.
When the tower fell, it tore his building apart, leaving a huge gash in the side.
Our Dad’s individual office faced the South Tower and it was obliterated by the collapse.
We had no idea where he was in the hours that followed.
We had no idea if he was even still alive.
Like so many others, it was a gut wrenching day for our family.
Praying, fearful, horrified, helpless, we were glued to the TV watching the gruesome events and images unfold before us in real time.
To this day…all these years later, we know just how blessed we were that our father made it home that night, when so many others did not.🙏🏻
This passage brought me back to that conversation with my brother.
I can see now, with certainty, that my brother was much further along in his relationship with God.
Although he wasn’t ready, the fact that he thought about God and trying to love the enemy says a lot.
That thought never even crossed my mind. I was filled with too much anger and fear.
Truth be told, I still can’t say I’ve forgiven.
And I still don’t know if have it in my heart to actively love those who’ve hurt me and those close to me, but…
I love God.
And I’m thinking about my connection with Him now, as opposed to back then.
So each day I’ll try.
Let’s be honest, we see violence and hatred everywhere we look these days.
The interesting thing is, I now find myself praying for those who carry such overwhelming anger and hatred in their hearts. And I pray for God’s presence in them.
That’s something I was never able to do before now.
So, I know that’s God. I know he’s working in my life. I know He’s helping me find peace in Him.
And I want His peace and His light to shine through me.
The passage says: “Jesus calls us not only to love those who love us, but to actively love those who have wounded us.”
What’s ironic is I sometimes find it easier to pray for people I don’t know, but a bit harder to pray for those who’ve hurt me in my own life.
Does anyone else notice that?
If we can extend love, forgiveness and prayer for strangers, why is it more challenging to have patience and offer those gifts of grace to the ones who are closest to us?
I can’t say I’ve forgiven those who’ve hurt our country and scarred our lives…
But I can say I’ll try.
I’ll pray.
I’ll continue to pray for safety and protection, I’ll pray for peace, I’ll pray for unity and compassion.
And I’ll pray the Lord “helps me to love, especially when it’s hardest”.
