My
friend Mike is a mailman for the U.S. Postal Service. When he first started delivering
mail, he encountered a number of vicious dogs when he carried packages to the
customers’ doors. The dogs were usually behind a fence, but it was quite unnerving
to come so close to barking and growling dogs that would love to tear him
apart.
He
carried a can of pepper spray just in case dog ever came to attack him. But
then he decided to try something different. He bought a bag of dog biscuits,
and whenever he delivered a package to a door, he would toss the barking dog a
treat. He kept doing this with every dog on his route. Now whenever he delivers
a package, the dogs aren’t barking at him. Now they’re wagging their tails and
are excited to see him! And that’s how you can change a vicious dog.
What
works for dogs also works for people. Paul writes, “If your enemy is hungry,
feed him. And if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing you will heap
burning coals upon his head” (Romans 12:20). Your enemy is someone who barks
and growls at you like an aggressive dog who wants to tear you apart. When you do
something kind for your enemy, it heaps burning coals on his head, which makes
him ashamed of the way he has been mistreating you. As you continue to show
kindness, the barking will stop, and the tail wagging will eventually begin.
And that’s how you can change a vicious enemy.
www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
@KentCrockett
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
