Finally, as we consider bullies on the playground of life, we remember our inner voice.
The filters we apply to our experiences dictate our inner voice--what we tell ourselves--and then our voice to each other.
We influence each other to approach life with love or hate or something in between. Our inner voice that drives us teaches love or hate. Startling.
In the movie, Stepmom, Julia Roberts is the girlfriend of Ed Harris and potential stepmom of his two kids with his ex-wife, Susan Sarandon. Roberts, as Isabel, is fresh and fun and funny, and it is no secret that Sarandon, as Jackie Harrison, detests the thought of her in her children's lives. Young Ben (Harrison) is captivated by Isabel but loves his mommy even more.
Ben Harrison: Mommy?
Jackie Harrison: What, sweetie?
Ben Harrison: If you want me to hate her I will.
Doesn't that stop you cold in your tracks? Isn't that exactly what we do? We teach others how to feel about someone by our own posture, our own interpretation of that person.
But wait--before we think we should change something, it is worth noting that God created us to interact with people, knowing our hearts would teach and influence the hearts of others.
That process warns us about dangerous people and helps us keep our families safe.
That process teaches our babies about unconditional love when we offer it.
That process helps us receive the unconditional love of God.
Us: God?
God: What, my child?
Us: If you want me to love that person, will you show both of us truth and freedom, for those seem to be your "birth parents" of love?
We are teachers of the human heart, operating from our inner voice. It is the last place we want a bully to reside. We can do the work of searching out truth and freedom in relationships so that love can be the fruit.
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