To Love Our Enemies

As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison ..Nelson Mandela

To love our enemies does not mean that we suddenly become their friends.  If it is our enemies we are to love, they must remain enemies.  Unless you have enemies, you cannot love them.  The moment you choose your friends, their enemies become your enemies.  By having convictions, we make ourselves the enemies of those who oppose our convictions.  I received an email to my website asking how I do not hate my enemy, my bully, my stalker.  I told her that it is my adult woman enemy that has given me success, inspiration, and the desire to be better.

When we have a mutual intimacy with a friend, it is one of the greatest gifts of life.  I enjoy my close friends; some since early childhood.  Friendship allows for many degrees of closeness and takes many different forms.  With enemies, it is the complete opposite.  After all, the word enemy comes from the Latin word, inimicus, and it means simply, not friend.  Enemies are opponents in mutual opposition in matters of deep concern.  Their goals are opposed to our own highest aspirations.  Thus, out of conviction, we must actively prevent them from reaching their goals.  We can do this lovingly, or not.  We can find ourselves head-on confronted with the possibility to love of enemies.

My enemy suffers from real life issues and we take that into consideration.  Her attempt to destroy my life has not worked and my new-found courage to confront her makes her angry.  I will no longer allow her to step into my boundary that I have firmly placed around me and my family.  Her carelessness will be a downfall in the not too distant future.

Copyright © 2019 By CandaLee Parker 

IRideTheDarkHorse.com

www.candaleewhittleparker.com 

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