Focal verse
“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
Reflection
Most days, as I drop off my children at school, I repeat the same words to them: “I love you. Have a good day.” And “Be kind”—perhaps most important right now. These words serve as a blessing for their day; I know they’ll face challenges with their schoolwork and their peers, but they must go out into the world. As parents, we want our children to face their struggles knowing that our love goes with them. We want them to welcome others and open their hearts to anyone they meet.
I want my kids to be kind because I know that the world we live in feels anything but kind some days. Our news and social media feeds thrive on division, the opposite of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is where people can come together and love one another not because they’re all the same but because we are all the same in God’s eyes.
Sending my children to school with the admonition to be kind reminds them of the important work of loving our neighbors—and our enemies. “Enemies” may feel like a strong word choice, but the term can encompass both school bullies and those in the world who don’t recognize the full humanity of others.
This month, I pray we all can turn down the news and tune in to the neighbors outside our doors. May we all be kind.
Practices
Over dinner or before bedtime, read together from The Just Love Story Bible (Beaming Books, 2025). Through retellings of thoughtfully selected Bible stories, the book teaches us about how others have harbored questions about God and the answers they discovered. It urges us to have our own ideas, to ponder our own experiences and to keep on wondering.
Create a family blessing to share with one another as you leave your home each day. Some examples include:
May you share God’s love and remember you are loved.
Remember that you are a loved child of God.
Go and serve God’s people and love your neighbors.
Prayer practice
As a family, make a list of people for whom it can be hard to pray. Maybe it’s the bully in your child’s class or the neighbor across the street who plays music loud and leaves trash outside. Pray for people who may not have your best interest at heart. Pray for leaders of countries where human rights are violated. As a family, lift up their names and pray for them.
