“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he (Jesus) is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:35). “Resentment kills a fool” (Job 5:2). “Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you” (Prov. 11:17).
Dear Jesus, the tears came unexpectedly, twice. All I was looking for was something to have on as the backdrop to my afternoon power nap. It looked innocent enough, so I hit the button and “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” filled my TV screen and heart. Sixty-eight minutes (I watched it twice) of animated kindness. generated a good bit of heart water and replaced my nap.
Why? What did that story tap into, Jesus? I think your Word makes it pretty clear, and our cultural moment underscores the need. Jesus, we are most like you when we are kind, not when we are calling down fire or turning over tables.
Watching four unlikely companions (a boy, mole, fox, and horse) offer presence and kindness to each other—each marked by some unvoiced story of displacement, hurt, shame, or fear… it just melted my heart and made me so thankful for you, Jesus, and the revolutionary power of the Gospel.
Repaying evil (real, not imaginary) with goodness; giving blessing rather than cursing (when cursing would be quite understandable); loving others (including the ill-deserving) as you love us, Jesus… this is the not-easy—but true, good, and beautiful life to which you have called us. Apart from your cross, it mocks our sensibilities. Thankfully, we live under your cross, not apart from it. So Very Amen.
