Wednesday, December 10, 2014

How is it possible to love those who hate you?

The first question that presents itself is, "What is Love?" The word is peppered about so frequently that it is applied to passing fancies as well as life-long commitments. In our western culture it generally means strong affection or personal affection. The original Hebrew meaning of love is "to give." Giving kindness, giving compassion, giving your best wishes and giving forgiveness could all be considered "love."

If somebody hates you, there is a reason for it. Normally hate comes about when one person has hurt another person in such a deep way that an emotional wound persists long after the deed has occurred.

If this is your case, take responsibility for your misdeed, communicate your sorrow to the other person and ask for their forgiveness.

If they are not open to the mending of your relationship, give it some time and then approach it again in the same way. If they still refuse you, kick the dust from your feet and move on with your life.

You have done your work and you can move along comfortably. If the other person continues to hate you, so what? The hate they feel and keep alive is merely the rancid remains of past misfortunes.

Your objective is to refrain from hating them back.  To love them in the truest sense of the word, is to give them understanding, compassion and wish for their best.