Do you run to the other mom? Do you bad mouth the offender? Or the offender's parents for poor parenting skills? Do you advise them to just stay away and not play with that child?
Maybe you automatically assume it's your child's fault?
Non of these are good practices according to Jesus and His example to us.
In Luke, Jesus tells us...
"Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also,
and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either."
Paul also says...
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."
Live is not fair. People are not always kind.
Children learn this early. How will you teach them to deal with unkind, unfair people?
Jesus gave us an example....
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
What is our example to our children when others are unkind to us? Cut us off in traffic or the grocery line? Church isn't what we think it should be (I'm talking preferences not theology)? Friends don't live up to our expectations?
Something to consider when offended:
Check the beam in your own eye before you worry about the speck in another's.
Pray for them. And I don't mean for God to change them. Pray for yourself - for God's love to be manifested in you.
Forgive as Christ forgave you.
Bless them.
Teach your children to do the same.
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