The Whole PointSample

Have you ever gotten mad at your sibling, or your cousin, or your friend because they were mean to you first? I can remember many times when my siblings were doing something unkind to me and then said some mean things back to them because I was mad. In the moment, I felt like they deserved it!

But here’s the thing: God calls us to love others, no matter what. Even when we think they do deserve to be treated the way they treated us! Instead, when we feel that way, we can take a few deep breaths and remember that God has asked us to love them, even if they don’t show the same for us. That anger and frustration that we feel sometimes, right before we say something that might be hurtful, doesn’t come from God. This verse says that all love comes from God, and if we love, then we are a child of God and know God. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though! There are some people that we may find difficult to treat with kindness. In those moments, we can remember that God has asked us to love them, too.

The next time someone does something that is frustrating or unkind, pause. Take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of this.

Written by Danielle, age 13, from Burke, Virginia, USA