Another Cheek

I was in the middle of the "old town" in Rhodes, Greece doing what I do best, which is shopping for worthless trinkets, when I witnessed something that affected me deeply.

A little girl about four years old lost her grip on the stroller she was pushing. It tipped backwards and hit the pavement. Thankfully, her sibling was strapped in tight and didn't budge during the descent. What happened next, I will never forget.

The father who was walking nearby yelled something in Greek or Turkish. He then "back handed" her with full force. I stood there stunned, watching it happen. The little girl didn't cry but stood silent as the father adjusted the stroller. They then progressed down the street. I sensed she was used to this kind of treatment. As they walked, he stopped suddenly and hit her again, hard; knocking her to the ground. She picked herself up and quietly followed behind.

I was enraged. Never having witnessed this type of violence before, I was unsure how to act. I watched. Internally I pleaded, "Lord! What do I do?"

I looked around. I was a lone woman in the back streets of a Greek city. Accosting this hostile man and "interfering" in a family affair didn't seem to be wise. Shop owners and locals stood and stared. One man shook his head. Then they returned to their work. No one had said a word and neither had I.

I continued shopping, greatly disturbed. "Lord, what should I have done?" It was wrong not to have done anything, but I didn't know what I could have done. An angry outburst from me would have just fueled the fire the man was already consumed with. As I thought about it, I began to feel I knew what Jesus would have done. Something I can do, too.

I believe Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5.39 alludes to the appropriate response to this type of situation. "But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also."

I'm sure I don't understand all that Jesus was trying to teach in this statement. But knowing Jesus, it must have something to do with stopping the violence rather than actually encouraging it.

Next time, I won't stand there wondering. I will "interfere" with the gentle statement:

"Hit me. Hit me instead."

I realize I may get "belted" for my efforts. Hopefully, instead it will be such an unexpected act that it will stop the aggression. It's a risk I'm willing to take. If I could go back in time, I would much rather have been hit than to have seen that little girl hit again as I stood by and did nothing. Maybe a peaceful and sacrificial response on my part will break the cycle of violence.

God created the word "compassion" and it's an action word. We are to be His hands and an extension of His character and care.

If we WILL not, what good are we?

Article Source: http://christian-topics.info

Shari Weigerstorfer is a free-lance Christian writer, native to the West Coast of America. When not indulging in her passion for travel, she writes from her home in Switzerland. Other articles by Shari can be found on her site at Faithwriters.com.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated