Have you ever been stricken with the familiar phenomenon that has you holding a grudge or seeking revenge against a person you feel has wronged you? If you answered “yes” to this question, you’re probably a person who has struggled with the concept of loving your enemy.
Whether Christian or non-Christian, loving your enemy can be tough when an enemy has hurt you with harsh words, gossip, jealousy, envy or worse yet, abuse of a physical or sexual nature.
This hurt inflicted by another person can take you through a myriad of emotions that may leave you with very harsh feelings toward the individual who has caused you harm.
Brenda D. Taylor, chiropractic student and author of “Beauty for Ashes,” knows these emotions all too well. She grew up with a father who abused her emotionally, physically and sexually as a child.
“Unforgiveness is like being led down a crooked road. Sometimes it’s hard to get back on the road that’s straight,” she said.
“I remember being in church one day when the pastor preached his sermon on honoring thy mother and father. That sermon literally hit close to home for me,” said Taylor
According to Taylor, it was a time she knew she was on that crooked road of resentment. She could not in any way feel honor for a person who at the time she perceived as her enemy.
Loving our enemy boils down to freely extending forgiveness and grace. Forgiveness is that thing we do when we pardon someone for an offense against us. Grace is undeserved favor. It’s what God extends to us over and over again, even though we don’t deserve it.
Romans, chapter 12 gives us lots of solid advice about how to get along in relationships. In it, the Apostle Paul leads us down the straight road to loving our enemy:
Taylor says she feels like she was able to maneuver a detour down that straight road of forgiveness by strengthening her Christian walk.
“There will be times when we need to be forgiven. We need to be able to extend that same forgiveness to those who have hurt us. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary,” said Taylor.
“Being able to forgive my father is not wrapped up in the things he did to me. My forgiveness is wrapped up in what God has done, is doing and will continue to do in and with my life,” she added.
To love your enemy comes down to not treating people the way they treat you but treating them the way you want to be treated. It’s the Golden Rule, and it can apply to your life no matter what you believe in.
Kelley Manges, Staff Reporter
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