This year I am dedicating my birthday to all the people who through negative feedback and evil misguided intentions have helped shape me into the person that I am today.  Typically we only thank the people who openly support us.  The way I see it, I wouldn’t be me if it were not also for the promise breakers, liars, users, and corrupt human beings that I’ve been equally blessed to encounter. I can think of a couple of self proclaimed racists and people who put me down that really shaped me. And I can’t forget my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who called me a fake Christian when I dared to quote Jesus who said, “Get the plank out of your own eye before you tell someone they have a speck in theirs.” You really did me a favor by suggesting I look for another church. I love y’all and hope you have been equally blessed with those who present the challenges you need to really look at yourselves in the mirror. That’s what all of you have done for me and I see it as no less than God creating me through positive and negative feedback.

You All Created Me
To all those who Love me
To all those who hate me
I just want to thank you
Because it’s through you all that He creates me
You are the Hands of God
Your tools are you emotions
In Her I place all my Faith
While to you I express devotion
The Universe is my Soul Mate
Helping me to express what it is I am
My light shines upon the garden of my mind
And blossoms with the Fruit of Man
Love is the fiber of our being
From it we sew the garments that warm our soul
Me for you all and you all for me
Created without control

© Copyright 2004 Pedro S. Silva II

Matthew 5:43-48

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,^[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

WHY?
For love of the One who taught me to love, I will strive to love as he loves. With everything that’s going on in this world, I don’t know what else I can do. We already know what doesn’t work. I am not going to lie on Christ by being a hater.

Happy National Love Your Enemies Day – September 26, 2017