Understanding

I always ask my boys about their days at school. I'm interested to know how there friends are, what they learned, and if there were any problems during their day. They always answer, " School was okay. " With specific questions about friends, they both answer, " I don't know." Maybe, it's just how boys talk. Who knows?
One day, however, my son Edwin was crying and did not want to go to school. This was unusual for him. He loves school so much. He's a good student , has a lot of friends, and loves his teachers. He revealed to me that there was a boy who was teasing him, whom I'll call "Johnny". Upon hearing this, I felt really sad. I wish I could protect my son from everything, but this was a battle that he had to learn to deal with.
I told my son to just ignore "Johnny". I even came up with some clever one liners for him to try against him. I thought further about what I was saying and teaching my child. I asked myself, " Why is "Johnny" acting this way?" Maybe there is something going on in his life, something so stressful and heart wrenching, that is bothering him to the core. His coping mechanism, unfortunately, is to take this out on others. What do you expect? He's only 10 years old, anyway! Perhaps, he doesn't realize that his actions hurt.
I told Edwin," You should forgive him. Maybe he acts that way because he is sad, hurt, or upset about something. Let's ask God to help him so he can stop acting so mean."

I thought about my words to Edwin, and how I should try to truly live these words, too. There are people in our lives who , for whatever reason, say or do things that are hurtful. Unfortunately, most are blind to their own actions. What we can do , however, is to forgive and to pray. I remember Jesus' words, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Only the Lord knows their hearts and souls. He knows what they have experienced in their lives to transform them into someone who does not love.
Edwin's story has a happy ending. "Johnny" no longer teases him. I know, however, that in the future, there will be more "Johnny"s and he'll have to learn to deal with them.

As for my own life, I struggle to remember that people who hurt others are likely hurting as well, as a result of mistreatment from someone else in their lives. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the gift of Understanding, to help me have patience, to continue to live the life that He has asked me to, and to remember that there is always something good, even in the most desolate of souls.