If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21,22)
Merciful Father,
This teaching may be the hardest of all. How do we find it in our hearts to be kind and serving to those who are mistreating us? This goes beyond forgiveness. It goes to a willingness to take action in service to those who may despise, disdain or belittle us. But what I do see in this proverb is a recognition of our human need for vindication. But you give us a different path to that vindication. A path that is completely contrary to any natural response we might have. You tell us here that by reaching out in service, we actually vindicate ourselves and embarrass our oppressors.
I pray that these children trust you in this and try it to see what happens. I believe that they will experience a joy and peace that will never happen if they, instead, hold on to anger. I say "I believe" because I freely confess that I am not good at this. And by this prayer I commit to intentionally plan and follow through with blessing some whom I might have forgiven, but that I generally avoid because of their attitude and behavior. I pray for these children and for me that we are able to balance this teaching with the risk of enabling bad behavior. I honestly do not have good wisdom in this regard, but I pray for your guidance. May these children navigate these waters with an abundance of your wisdom and thereby reach people with your love in a way that leads them to you.
Amen
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