so as devoted followers of Jesus, we’re to teach our lil ones to respond as he did, to injustice…and at the same time manage a healthy level of self-respect, right? easier said than done. case in point: earlier this week braylon was standing in the cafeteria line w/a crispy bill in hand, about to order some highly anticipated ice cream. classmate, christopher sees the dollar & snatches it right out of bray’s hand. what’s bray’s 1st response? not to tell a teacher or nearby assist. principal, not to even ask for it back. no, he decided that the best way to get chris to let go of the dollar would naturally be, to bite the boy’s forearm as hard as he could.
sure, it shows he’s not gonna let anyone take advantage of him (thanks 4 that positive spin, gramma!) but is that what i’m after? how should i teach him to respond to the injustice in his life? Jesus had no issues w/self -respect, yet some would say he let people walk all over him. he never retaliated physically. he retaliated with the spoken word…and sometimes even silence. he basically told judas, ‘do what you gotta do’. he turned his other cheek. he stood, shaking & dripping in blood that good friday, while soldiers whipped him until he looked un-human. oh, he had plenty of power to ‘stand up for himself’ & retaliate, but his power was harnessed w/love & restraint. eugene peterson paraphrased it this way:
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
how do we respond to the injustice in our lives? guess the answers are right there ~ study & reflect Christ, speak the truth in love, trust the Father to deal w/anyone who mistreats u & never lose sight of the joy & place of honor set before you. you’ll get that ice cream.
Chelan 