“You can’t play with us!” Sally* stated emphatically and included a very angry look. Sally is a four-year-old barking at another four-year-old girl on the playground at preschool. This interchange had been brewing all morning. Sally wanted to be the new girl’s only friend and had been verbally working the group to make sure they understood her position. Sally’s angry outburst had caught the attention of her teacher and discussions ensued in which the teacher was now doing the talking and Sally was listening.
Why did I start a February Valentine message with this story? Well, the verse the children are learning for the month of February is, “Love one another.” (John 13:34 ) and each week the Bible stories, songs, and workbooks have focused on ways to share love with others in word and deed. The scene seemed strange positioned alongside what the children, including Sally, had been learning.
As I witnessed the morning’s drama I was amazed at how easy it is, not only for Sally but for all of us, to fall into one of the roles in this kind of act. My thoughts went to the other players in the scene. Maybe the following passages might clear up what came to my mind.
Matthew 5:43, 44, 46
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And Luke 6:27, 32, 35
But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
While Sally is an important character in this drama there are others; the new girl, Jordan*, the girl at which the finally verbal attack was addressed, Heather*, and the teacher. My attention was drawn to Heather, who took the main blast from Sally. What would be her reaction to being attacked for just wanting to play with Jordan and Sally? Heather first stopped in her tracks with a look of disbelief and then turned silently to walk away. But within minutes she was playing with someone else and when I caught up with her in another ten minutes or so she was happily playing with Sally and Jordan.
I’m not calling Sally evil, but in light of these passages she is the enemy, the one who curses and was spitefully. The Word is clear that Heather’s reaction was a favorable one in light of being attacked. For as Luke 6: 27 says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? . . . even sinners love those who love them.”
Here is my assignment for you on this Valentine’s Day: do you have a Sally in your life? God wants you to express love to them. Luke 6:35 says “do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
Starting on this 2008 Valentine’s Day let’s strive to live out the second greatest commandment, “To love our neighbor as our self.” That means all our neighbors, even the ones that have been unkind to us. Did someone come to mind? That’s the one you need to love.
*Not their real name
