Turn the Other Cheek Love

I've never been a fan of tough love. I know sometimes it is a necessary evil but I don't favor it. Tough love happens after all other resources have been exhausted. You are at the end of your rope so it's time to get tough. Maybe I can't see past the trees into the forest but that's how tough love comes across to me. I don't know that Christ ever exercised it. Some may want to argue the point with me but I feel secure in my opinion. "Turn the other cheek...do good to those who spitefully use you...seventy times seven. It's all there, written in red. The Man who knew one of His disciples was a thief and had the potential to work evil against Him didn't exercise tough love with him. Instead, He washed his feet and fed him with the fishes and loaves.

I had the oppotunity to choose between tough love and "turn the other cheek" kind of love several years ago. Someone I love very much had given himself over to the enemy, slowly killing himself with drugs. This individual lied to us, stole from us and sacrificed our safety for his pleasure. Did he love us? Yes, I know he did because sometimes, while he was asleep I'd go into his room and pray for him. I wrote out a prayer once and left it for him to find. Later I found it tacked above his bed. When I asked him why, he said he needed to read it before he went to sleep. This was not an easy road our family walked. There was much fighting, crying and praying. Too many times we did not know whether he would come home in one piece or even come home at all. But still we kept loving, fighting and praying.

A few nights ago he was home doing laundry. As I walked past the bedroom I looked inside and saw him folding his clothes, yes folding his clothes that he had washed. I do not know the last time he folded anything. Usually his clothes would lay in one big pile and slowly move to another dirty pile. But there he stood folding away. I was impressed, not with him but with God. There was a time when I believe he would have died if we had made him leave. But here he is, very much alive all because of God and His incomprable grace. I was relating a story of a family member who has been in dire straits and he said something to me I don't believe I have ever heard him say. He said, "I'll be praying for him". Those five simple words might be just a vain promise but I choose to believe that my son means them.

I know there may be a place and time for tough love- you have to decide for yourself but I'm grateful to have the excellent example of Christ and His "turn the other cheek" love.