Several years ago, I remember my oldest brother chastising one of my nephews. The nephew was bragging about how he had done something not very nice to another child and had gotten away with it.  He seemed very pleased with himself and his actions.  My brother asked him why he did it.  He replied “Because it was fun”.  My brother then asked him how he would like it if somebody did that to him.  My nephew replied, “I wouldn’t, but…” that’s as far as he went before my brother said “Someone will do something like that to you or maybe something worse. Then what”?  My nephew was silent with no defense for his actions.

I’m certain all of us have found ourselves at one time or another being unkind to someone for our own personal gain, or at least what we perceived was our gain. It felt okay at the time and maybe we too thought it was fun.  I taught middle school students for 30 years of my life and this was a daily occurrence, but often their comeuppance was swift and by the next class period, the tables had turned. I still see people in my senior community doing this to other people and I have to ask myself, why?  Have they never grown up, do they not care about other’s feelings or are they just mean spirited because they are unhappy?

I read this recently and was touched by its simplicity and truth.  We could all learn from this and act upon it and our world might be kinder.

What is life? Life is like an echo.  What you send out- comes back.  What you sow- you reap. What you give- you get. What you see in others – exists in you. Do not judge-so you will not be judged. Radiate and give love and love will come back to you.

Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

These same words can also be found in Luke 6:31 and are commonly known as The Golden Rule. God directed us to act according to His word.

His unconditional love for us should be all we need to follow His example to treat others as He treats us.  He loves us, gives us the opportunity for repentance and forgives our trespasses if we believe in Him and ask for His pardon. This gift is also beautiful in its simplicity and truth. Thanks be to God!

Patty