{"id":2930,"date":"2014-11-18T08:33:58","date_gmt":"2014-11-18T08:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oshetablogs.wordpress.com\/?p=2930"},"modified":"2014-11-18T08:33:58","modified_gmt":"2014-11-18T08:33:58","slug":"enemy-love-lesson-for-the-tween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/2014\/11\/enemy-love-lesson-for-the-tween\/","title":{"rendered":"Enemy Love Lesson for the Tween"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Thomas_School_Bus_Bus\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tyson<\/strong>: Mom! Instead if you driving me to school, can I take the bus today?<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> Isn\u2019t it early? Won\u2019t you be waiting at the bus stop for a little bit?<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> yeah, but Ms. P\u2019s always there to receive early kids, I guess I\u2019ll wait by her. *rolls eyes, sighs*<\/em>
\nShe really<\/strong> gets on my nerves with all her rules! She\u2019s always saying something to me!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> so here\u2019s the deal, I\u2019d prefer to drive you, but since you want to ride with your friends I have three conditions:
\n1: take out the trash
\n2: put on your coat
\n3: when you see Ms. P this morning say, \u201cGood Morning, Ms. P. How are you today?<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> (groans) uh, mom! Really?<\/p>\n

Me: <\/strong>Yep! If you\u2019re going to intentionally place yourself where you\u2019ll be around someone who you have issues with, you\u2019re going to practice enemy love by greeting her with kindness.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> (over dramatic tweenage growl): she is my enemy!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> So\u2026who do we know that had something to say about that?<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> (resignedly) Jesus. But, Mom!\u00a0 Seriously?\u00a0 I. JUST. CAN\u2019T. EVEN!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 Just stop.\u00a0 Look at her in the eye, realize she\u2019s a person\u2013<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong>\u00a0 She\u2019s not she\u2019s an evil rule-making\u2013<\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0<\/strong> She is a person<\/strong> who Jesus loves<\/strong> and even though she feels like an enemy we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong>\u00a0 (whining)\u00a0 I know but it\u2019s soooooooo haaaaaaaaard!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 So, we\u2019ll pray that the Holy Spirit who helped Jesus love his enemies will help you show love to Ms.\u00a0 P today.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> (throws hands up in the air)\u00a0 And what if she starts a conversation with me?\u00a0 What if she starts to remind me of the rules?<\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0<\/strong> Then you smile, nod, and say, \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am\u201d.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ughhhhhhhh<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 Yep, dude.\u00a0 Enemy love is<\/em> hard.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong>\u00a0 Fine.\u00a0 Fine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll do it. But can I think of my kind words as ninja daggers?<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong> Uh\u2026sure, as long as you\u2019re imagining your kind words cutting up the bad energy between you two, then sure, kind ninja dagger away.\u00a0 I\u2019ll touch base with Ms. P about the bus stop today.<\/p>\n

Tyson:\u00a0<\/strong> (throwing his bag over his shoulder) You owe me big for this.<\/p>\n

Me:<\/strong>\u00a0 Uh\u2026no\u2026.<\/p>\n

Tyson:<\/strong> (heads out the door)\u00a0 Ok.\u00a0 Pray for me.\u00a0 Ughhhhhhh.<\/p>\n

\n

You\u2019re familiar with the old written law, \u2018Love your friend,\u2019 and its unwritten companion, \u2018Hate your enemy.\u2019 I\u2019m challenging that. I\u2019m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best\u2014the sun to warm and the rain to nourish\u2014to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.<\/span><\/p>\n

48\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIn a word, what I\u2019m saying is, Grow up<\/i>. You\u2019re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.\u201d ~Matthew 5:43-48,\u00a0 The Message<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seeking Shalom at the Bus Stop,<\/p>\n

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Tyson: Mom! Instead if you driving me to school, can I take the bus today? Me: Isn\u2019t it early? Won\u2019t you be waiting at the bus stop for a little bit? Tyson: yeah, but Ms. P\u2019s always there to receive early kids, I guess I\u2019ll wait by her. *rolls eyes, sighs* She really gets on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3037,"featured_media":2932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[462,3,428,477],"tags":[639,313,640,21,32,591,145,641],"class_list":["post-2930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anabaptist","category-blog","category-family","category-peacemaking","tag-as-you-go","tag-bible","tag-enemy","tag-jesus","tag-love","tag-matthew","tag-parenting","tag-persecution"],"yoast_head":"\nEnemy Love Lesson for the Tween<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tyson: Mom! 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