We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.
Whenever I read this quote, my mind can’t help but think of the TV show Scandal. I’m sure you are all aware, but there are no heroes or villains. Everyone was both good and bad. They all made wrong choices while trying to maintain semblance of themselves.
We were able to see the characters struggle with complex situations and while the drama unfolded before our eyes, sometimes we question–“What would I do?”
No matter the choices they made during the show, the reoccurring theme was–love. Each person did what they did because of someone or something that they love. The person who they hurt couldn’t stay mad at them for long because they were in love and they were well aware that the love of their life was flawed. They cannot help but love them regardless.
The same can be said of our love affair with our country. Yes, we know there is a dark side to our history that we have yet to come to terms about, but for those who the history have hurt, there is still love and most of all hope.
Hope that one day the place they love will look upon them and seek forgiveness. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Hope that change will come soon for the next generation. Hope that we will continue to move in the positive direction.
Because for all its flaws and all it’s mistakes, our country is loved deeply. The people who make up this country is loved deeply.
And those who may still be stuck in the “good ol’ days”, regardless–they are loved.
If you cannot love a person for all their faults, it’s hard to say you love them at all.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.–Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hate–at least to me, is an easy emotion. It runs hot it burns strong.
But one thing about hate, is that it takes up so much energy to remain angry. It takes up so much of who we are that we can easily lose ourselves in the emotion.
Other times, we are caught in our own world and our own concerns that we fail to see how our views or opinions on how things ought to be, affects other people. When we are wrapped in our own worlds, we are blind to see the pain of others.
This of course works both ways.
But the beauty of all of this–the beauty of being naturally flawed–is that we all love where we live and we all want a better future for our children’s children.
So, for sake of love, let us hope that we are never comfortable with the status quo. Let us hope that we will always move forward, with love and not malice, towards a better future.
In all that we do, let us hope to choose love over hate.
{This post has been part of my Black History Series}
Hi Kalley, I’m here from the SITS girls comment love! Your post is really beautiful! (Makes me feel silly having a post about a smoothie!). I totally agree that people (myself included) get wrapped up in thier own worlds and problems and forget about others. Hate becomes the norm and seems easy, but in reality it’s sucking good energy. 🙂 Julia
Ah Julia! We all need smoothies in our lives! 🙂
I’m glad that this post was able to reach you and resonate with you! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!
Great and thoughtful post.
Thank you Cam!
This is so beautifully stated. I especially love the quote, “Hate is too hard a burden to bear.” from Martin Luther King.
I had a story published in Chicken Soup for the Soul of America, after September 11. When I saw the galley proofs for the first time, the MLK quote was….
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
So grateful we are in the Group 6 for the SITS Comment Love challenge!
September 11th taught us a lot about our fears. It also taught us a lot about our inner qualities as well (good and bad)! I’m so happy to have connected with you through the SITS Blogging Comment Love!
Sharing some SITS girl love #lovetribes xx
Thank you for stopping by Juls.
Love that quote! Hate only hurts us, not the only person. I had someone tell me once that holding on to hate/anger is giving the other person free rent in our soul.
#SITSBlogging
That is so true Julie! It’s like you’re giving the other person the power over you and your emotions. Once you let it go, you have a totally freeing experience. We then learn that no one can (or should be allowed to) control our emotions, that is our right. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! 🙂
Beautiful post! Hate comes so easily sometimes and we really need to remember to take a step back and think about the impact we’re having on ourselves and others.
#SITSBlogging
Very true. Hate is an easy road to travel, but it’s often lonely. Thank you for stopping by my blog!
What a lovely, lovely, blog. Love is a powerful tool and a huge healer. Oh, if only everyone reached for love first and shut out the hate what a world this would be. Thank you for this. #SITSBlogging love!
Hi Karen! Oh, this world would be so different if we all reached for love first! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!
A great post and well written. Gets you thinking.
Another SITS girl #SITSBlogging
Thank you Kate! Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Choosing love over hate is a gift for the chooser as well. Its amazing how much it can change your overall happiness level when you have a positive attitude, even in light of some very icky circumstances or shoddy treatment…
So true Kim, we we keep a positive attitude, we then learn that we are in control of our emotions, no one else is!
I love this quote. I think we need this one in our house to remind us daily that it is easier to chose hate sometimes but always better to chose love.
#sitsblogging
It’s a great quote to keep up and remind us to choose love! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog!
My favorite part: —-> “But one thing about hate, is that it takes up so much energy to remain angry. It takes up so much of who we are that we can easily lose ourselves in the emotion.
Other times, we are caught in our own world and our own concerns that we fail to see how our views or opinions on how things ought to be, affects other people. When we are wrapped in our own worlds, we are blind to see the pain of others.”
I really don’t have much of a comment. That was perfectly said.
Thank you Fatima!
What an uplifting and edifying post! Thank you! I’m so glad I came across your blog via #SITSblogging. Loved the point you made: that we can get too busy being wrapped up in our own lives and miss seeing the pain others are in. How much better would the world be if we all followed your advice?!
Thank you so much Julie! And thank you for stopping by my blog! 🙂
Kalley, this is beautifully written. I appreciate that you thoughtfully posted this during this month, even this week (Valentine’s). It is so easy to keep and hold things and allow animosity build, but it is easier, healthier, and makes one happier to let go and choose love over hate. Thanks for the reminder. #SitsBlogging
You are so very welcome KiaC, thank you for stopping by and reading my blog!
I will always choose love over hate 🙂 I Love that message, Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome Kari Ann!
I love this blog! I think you are correct, we CAN choose love over hate! What a positive message!
Thank you Kathy! I appreciate and thank you for stopping by and reading my blog! 🙂