Daily Thought for Monday, July 11th

July 11, 2011

Physical Enemies

Today’s Thought:

“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each man’s life a sorrow and a suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Today’s Quote:

“If you have no enemies, you are apt to be in the same predicament in regard to friends..” – Elbert Hubbard

Today’s Question

Have you ever wondered why: “Our enemies’ opinion of us comes closer to the truth than our own?” – La Rochefoucauld

Today’s Bible Verses:            Matthew 5:43-44 &  Proverbs 25:21-22

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 you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:  For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.” – A Malayan Proverb

Regardless of how affable we may be; or how likable we may seem; there would be scarcely one among us who does not or has not had an enemy or two.

Enemies can come in all shapes and sizes and an enemy does not necessarily have to be someone who is out for our blood, literally speaking.    An enemy can be someone who does not respect us: does not share our point of view; does not want to see us succeed or maybe just doesn’t like us because they don’t like the way we look or how we dress.  Some enemies may wish us harm while other may not care at all what happens to us as long as it is nothing too good.

So, it is a fair assumption that not only do we have enemies we are probably perceived to be someone else’s enemy as well.

Regardless of the nature of what makes a person our enemy or the depth of the feelings the exist as a by product of being an enemy we need to remember we are all God’s creation and He wants us to love each other; even when we don’t really like each other.

And it might be helpful to consider that just because someone is considered an enemy; it doesn’t mean they can’t provide insight and offer ways to help us become a better person.

A thought to ponder: “Nothing would more contribute to make a man wise than to have always an enemy in his view.” – Lord Halifax

Today’s Prayer:

Father, there may be many people I don’t like and many who don’t like me: but help me always to remember you don’t like my sins, but still you forgive them; so help me to do likewise and to remember to always treat others the way I would want them to treat me, if our situations or circumstances were reversed.