Matthew 5:43-46

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate [detest] you, and pray for them which despitefully use [insult, slander, falsely accuse] you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Many times over the years I have loved the unlovable. I decided to love these difficult people no matter what. Whenever I thought about them, I thought loving thoughts. I saw the good and magnified it over the yucky parts of their personalities. I'd picture the people in my mind and say over and over, "I love you." I'd dwell on them in love. I'd see them a nicer way, always. I'd pray for them and bless them and keep coming back with good things, no matter how ugly they behaved toward me.

It did not take long for those people to respond to me in a more loving manner. At the most, it took several months for one of those people to respond more becomingly. It has never failed to work. [1 Corinthians 13:8]

I cannot guarantee that all your enemies will change and become more loving themselves. But when we love the unlovable, WE change. We will reap what is sown and more love will come back. Try it.

-Carol Kenreigh