Let’s Go Fishin’!
January 17
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on
the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:39
Billy stood by as Cindy pounded mercilessly on Ryan. She had Ryan’s arms
pinned to the ground with her knees, taunting him, “So how’s it feel now,
tough guy?”
Cindy, sixteen, beautiful, and a tomboy, had come around the corner of
the house to find Ryan punching Billy in the face, and Billy’s nose bleeding.
Hollering, “Get off my brother!” she dove, tackling Ryan and rolling on top of
him. Ryan wanted to hit back, but he’d been raised to never hit a girl and to
turn the other cheek. Right now, he didn’t think much of his parent’s teach-
ing—this hurt!
He covered up the best he could, but Cindy still managed to land a few.
So much for her ever being my girlfriend! he thought. Besides, Billy and I fight like
this all the time. What’s the big deal?! When Cindy finally let him up, Ryan’s arms
ached from defending himself.
But true to how ten-year-olds view such matters, less than five minutes
later, he and Billy grabbed their fishing poles and headed for the creek, recent
events forgotten.
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Kids are able to take things in stride without placing blame or harboring
resentment. Ryan would never forget that beating. With fondness, laughter,
and exaggerated animation, Ryan told and retold the story to his children as a
way of leading by example, holding with the philosophy that “Boys do not hit
girls; little or big ones.”
Violence breeds violence; it never solves problems. Though turning the
other cheek is not an easy thing to do, Christ managed to do it. He lovingly
endured horrible beatings for me and you. With Jesus as our example, how
then, shall we live?
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, it doesn’t feel natural to back down when
confronted. I get embarrassed and want to strike back! Help
me do what You did when they beat You; help me understand
the true meaning of turning the other cheek. Amen.”
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