Jesus said something surprising. He said, "Love your enemies." He said, "Pray for those who mistreat you." Jesus was not saying mean words are okay. He knows they hurt. He was saying, do not let mean words grow inside you.
It is hard to be kind when someone is unkind. So tell a grown-up you trust. That is not tattling for revenge. It is asking for help. Then you can pray for the person who was mean. Prayer makes your heart soft again. It reminds you that God loves that person too.
Loving an enemy does not mean staying near someone who hurts you. It means you do not become mean back. You can say kind words to yourself too. You belong to God. Nothing mean can change that.
🛡️When Someone Is Mean
Jesus Says: Love Your Enemies
Being kind when someone is mean begins with telling a grown-up.
October 15, 20262 min readNIV
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
— Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Love enemies
Today's Story
✍️Fictitious Story
At drawing time, a boy in Lucas's class leaned over and said his picture looked like a baby drew it. Then he called Lucas "baby Lucas," loud enough for the next table to hear. Lucas's ears felt hot. He wanted to say something mean back. Instead he kept his crayon on the paper. At recess he found his teacher, Mrs. Lim, and told her what happened. After school, Mum folded socks at the table and asked about his day. Lucas told her too. She asked if he wanted to call the boy names back. Lucas shook his head. "I don't want to be mean like that," he said. That night he said one kind thing to himself: God loves me, and I can still be kind.
Reflection
Think About It
• When someone says something mean to you, who is a grown-up you can tell? • What kind thing can you say to yourself after someone is unkind?
Prayer
Father, thank You for ears that hear You, for grown-ups who listen, and for Your love that never stops. Help me love people who are mean, and pray for them, just as Jesus said. All glory to You. Amen.
Live It Out
If someone is mean today, tell a grown-up you trust and say one kind thing to yourself.