Love and Hate

Love is something we all like, isn’t it? We are happy when we love others, and it is wonderful to have others love us, too. It is in our families that we learn how to love each other. You know that your parents love you. And so you love them, too. God is the one who gives love.

But sometimes it is not so easy to love each other. Sometimes it seems easier to hate others. When your brother keeps bothering you or little sister wrecks your special project, irritated and angry thoughts come to your mind. “Why can’t he just keep away?” or “She knows she’s supposed to keep out of my things!” Soon everything they do seems just to bother you. Instead of love, you have hate building up inside.

Hate is a very bad thing. At first it seems like a good idea, like when Rosie thought Emma shouldn’t get so much attention. But when you think selfishly you forget about others. Soon the hateful thought grows until it chokes out all the good inside you. It makes you miserable and hateful yourself. The Bible says that he who hates his brother is a murderer. Of course, you wouldn’t want to kill your brother. But some people started out with a few angry thoughts, and in the end they killed another person. That is what hate can do.

Love is just the opposite. Instead of thinking about yourself, you will think of how to make others happy. Instead of choking out the good, love fills us up with good. It brings peace and happiness to our hearts. If we let God have His way, He can fill us up with love no matter how others act. Think about how much God loves you, even if you are hateful. When we do good to others and love them, hate will have to leave. And don’t you think they will want to be more loving, too?