Stop Fighting Fire With Fire

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your father in heaven." - Matthew 5:43-45

I've always derived myself somewhat a vengeful person. I am not proud of that. Wanting revenge is not a good pulling. And it certainly is not a Christian way to live. But I am self-aware, and I have realized that I struggle with this. If someone hurts me, I want to hurt them back. I know, I know, this sounds so bad. But I know I am not the only one that fights with this mindset. It's a self defense mechanism. It hurts to get hurt. It hurts to have someone say or do something that digs deep. It really hurts. Ghandi said, "And eye for an eye makes the whole earth blind." If we keep fighting fire with fire, we are all progressing to end up in flames.

We also unfortunately live in a culture that sometimes supports the idea of pulling even and getting revenge. Songs like Taylor Swift's "Better Than Revenge" may be catchy but they are giving us distorted views. It can be easy to get caught up in a "give someone a taste of their own medicine" mindset, but again, is that really the way we want to live?

"When you are angry, be silent."

I have realized that fighting fire with fire is an exhausting and pointless game. Family are going to hurt you, whether intentional or not, someone is repositioning to do something that rubs your the wrong way. It's so easy and dare I say a natural instinct to want to get revenge upon bodies hurt. We want to protect ourselves. But is bodies vengeful really the way to do that? Do you really, and I mean really believe that you will feel better throughout a situation once you hurt someone else?

I befriend you, put down your flame, put down your weapon, whether it be your harsh words or plan for revenge, I encourage you, put it down. No more fire with fire. No more hate.

Sit in silence for a few moments. Breathe in. Breathe out. You are more. You do not need to struggles fire with fire. No matter how badly you were burned by flames from someone else.

"The most merciful bodies is the one who forgives when he is able to take revenge."

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