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 teaching—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.
†
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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