The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 12:19-21, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 “But 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.’

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It’s really too bad that I’ve had to live so long to understand how much wisdom my mother had. She was not a philosopher; she was a teacher, and she poured so much of what she knew into me – yet, the obstreperous youth that I was, I seethed to get even with those who did me wrong.

My dad’s father was a blacksmith. He had discovered just the right moment to temper steel, so that it lasted longer for its intended purpose. When I left home to start life on my own, my dad said to me, “Son, remember, a man is like steel: he has to have temper to be any good, but never any good if he loses it.”

Obviously, I have never forgotten both instructions, but my intemperate self, when wrongly treated, longs to “heap burning coals on the heads” of my opponents.

What does it mean to “heap burning coals” on the head of someone?

The Old Testament says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you” (Prov. 25:21-22). Paul, in the wisdom given him, says that getting even with an opponent is God’s business, not ours. That hurts, because it always “feels good” to best those who do us wrong. But it’s not the way to win!

The wisdom of still another says,

Vengeance may break a man’s spirit; but kindness will always break

his heart. If we are kind to our enemies, it will heap coals of fire on their heads. It’s not that that will store up further punishment for them, but that

it will move them to burning shame. Evil can never be conquered by evil. Hatred met with hatred, only increases more hatred; but if hatred and injustice are met with love, we will have discovered the antidote to the poison.

The only true way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend; and the LORD’s love is the key to that.

We are praying for wisdom for us all,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”