Love thy Enemy

I try to be nice and like everyone, I really do try. Sometimes I get annoyed with people and there are people who I have not had good experiences with. You know those people who are mean and they bring out the worst in you. Seriously there are people who I just cannot be in the same room with. For some reason it seems like I have run into several of these "enemies" this week. So how can I love my enemy? 

For the people who just annoy you or rub you the wrong way, you have to try to see Christ in each of them. Just try to see the good in them. It can be hard, but just trying to see things from their perspective helps. Pray for understanding and compassion. Don't sweat the small stuff. Most people are not trying to be mean to you, they are just not really thinking. Yeah it is a little selfish, but I know there are times when I have been selfish. I try to forgive. Ultimately just treat people the way you want to be treated. 

Now there are people who do go out of their way to hurt you. With this kind of person the best thing you can do is just be polite and avoid them when possible. You don't have to make a big deal about it or snub them. Really just treat them like a stranger. You don't have to be overly friendly or even friendly at all, just be polite. These are the people you need to pray for and pray for the wisdom to know what the right thing to do is and the courage to do it. 

Live Like You Were Dying

So I have been very busy lately. About two weeks ago my 11 year old cousin was having some pain in her abdomen. She went to the ER around 6 in the evening by 11 she learned she had cancer. She had her kidney and a very large tumor removed and now she is facing 8 month of chemo and radiation. I spent most of the last two weeks with her and her family, helping out and babysitting.

I feel like my life is a Boy Meets World episode sometimes. You know how on that show the book they are reading that week in English just happens to correspond to the drama of their lives? The gospel readings for the last few weeks has been like that for me.

This last gospel reading was about how we don't know when the end comes and so we should always be ready. Now to me this kind of related to that song "Live Like You Were Dying." My cousin went from being a normal, happy 11 year old to having her whole like change. Life is so short and so fragile that I don't want to waste my time doing nothing. I want to live and I want to help people and I want to be happy. It comes down to where do you want to be when Jesus comes back. Do you want to be in a bad relationship? Do you want to be a bully? Do you want to be unhappy? Or do you want to be ready and happy to run into Jesus' arms? I choose to live the gospel, love my neighbor as myself, and live a life that I am not afraid to show The Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.