While I was rearranging some furniture in our home today, my little boy was playing with his Cars 2 characters on our couch. If you have not seen that movie, some villainous cars try to harm (and even kill in an unexpectedly disturbing scene for a kids' movie) other cars in hopes of keeping their "big oil" companies productive. Plot aside, you now know there are some really mean characters (maybe we adults would call them "bad guys" or "evil.")
In his role playing with these cars, I heard my child fervently saying, "Jesus, help us so we not be mean!!! Help us so we not be mean!"
My heart melted as I stopped to saturate this precious moment from my amazing little boy. He steals my heart multiple times a day.
We try not to use terms of "good" or "bad" when discussing characters in stories. The heart behind behavior is more what we want to spotlight than a "bad person" or a "good person." And, more than that, we want to call attention to the power of God's love over a heart. We haven't read this story in a few weeks, but I think my little boy got this specifically from the story of Zacchaeus in The Jesus Storybook Bible. The story in this particular Bible highlights how Zacchaeus had no friends because he stole money from them when collecting taxes. (And I think everyone, even Jesus, would agree that it's okay not to befriend a thief. Remember, sharing love and befriending are two totally different things.) And then it shows that when Jesus treats Zacchaeus, even as the jerk he is, as the somebody special he is to Jesus that Zacchaeus has a heart change. He makes right what he did wrong. He wants to make right what he did wrong. So, as we say when we talk about it, when Jesus revealed his love to Zacchaeus, it helped Zacchaeus "not be mean" to others.
Every day it strikes me that I put way too much stock in my ability or my control. I convince myself it is somehow up to me to save the world or change hearts. Nope, it doesn't work like that.
"Jesus, help us so we not be mean."
I suppose an adult's version of this plea could be, "Jesus, help us to love like you do."
I like being around little kids these days because things are simple. Adults complicate things that I sincerely believe shouldn't be so complicated.
Yes, it is natural to have disagreements. And, yes, it is good to be honest about disagreeable circumstances. Arguments aren't inherently bad.
Yes, it is okay to dislike someone. Disliking someone has nothing to do with loving or not loving someone. It may prevent a friendship, but it doesn't prevent loving service or kindness.
But I think adults go out of our way to be unkind when we dislike or disagree with someone else. We get caught up in the illusion of control we want over someone else's decisions or thoughts.
I can dislike and disagree, but I never have to be mean.
I cannot change anyone's heart, but I can choose to be kind.
If I cannot change my own heart, and I honestly believe I cannot, Jesus can.
I am trying to remember this. Because it is difficult for me. Especially in this world that is so bent on having control.
"Jesus, help me to love like you do."
