In a world that seeks revenge and keeps score, it is extremely difficult to "turn the other cheek," as Jesus instructs us to do. Let's be honest, if someone were to really come up to me and punch me on the right side of my face, you can bet your bottom dollar that my first instinct would not be to turn my head and reply, "okay, thank you, please, hit me with your best shot on my other side too!" Playing girls' soccer for over twelve years did not give me that "pushover" per se attitude, especially when aggression was indeed encouraged.

However, life is not a soccer field, which I find a little disappointing; but, that is not the kind of life that God wants us to live because it is fleeting.

In my short 18 years of life, I have found that being the bigger person is NOT always easy. Growing up with a little brother, at times (well, most times) were trying. Honestly, I cannot even say I have a "last nerve" anymore because so and so has been on my "last nerve" decades now, meaning I am straight out of nerves.

Take a family vacation, for example, where five people of various sizes, interests, smells, and eating and entertainment habits are forced to be smashed in a 15 foot approximate vicinity for eight or more hours where stopping every thirty or so minutes is an absolute given (because when you stop to get gas, you use the restroom, and of course get a drink and a snack too, so whatever goes in, well, has to come out, so the cycle repeats until the answer to the one hundredth "ARE WE THERE YET?" is finally "YES, now shut your mouth and help your dad with the bags!")

These amazing bonding experiences definitely build character and force patience to be embedded within a person. In addition, they can be related to life on a day to day basis. While it is so much easier to "be petty" as people in my generation would say, it is so much more rewarding (maybe not at first) in those moments to just keep a closed mouth and an open heart. I think that some of the wisest people in this world say the least amount. Seeking revenge or "getting back at someone" makes you just as bad.

My grandfather used to say "when you point a finger at someone, you have four more pointing back at you." Instead, maybe a better use of our hands would be closed together, on our knees, with our heads bowed.

The next time a feeling of being backstabbed, seeking revenge, becoming annoyed, or even overwhelmed by frustration, seek not to treat others how they have treated you. Rather, put yourself in their situation and treat them how you would want them to treat you, no matter how terrible (you may think at the moment) it was.

Thank the Lord he does not "keep score" and treat us how we deserve sometimes. Instead, his love and mercy are radiant in this world full of sin and hate.