Wet Blanket Maneuver

When I substitute in the public schools, inevitably there is one child during my day that seems to be the class target. This is the child who is the brunt of jokes, has few friends, and who is teased unmercifully. Usually, it is this child’s reactions to the teasing that spurs the perpetrators on to further abuse. I have a tender heart for these children because I was one. I was picked on in elementary and middle school and would come home crying out to my father. He would tenderly say, “Well, Cheri, you’re just so pick-able, that’s why they pick on you.” He’d then go on to tell me that my reaction was what was fueling their fire, and if I wanted them to stop, I needed to change my reaction. With his help, I learned to master the wet blanket maneuver. When someone meant me harm, I sent him or her blessings in my mind. After a while, it was no longer fun to pick on Cheri. This isn’t a new concept. God came up with it first.
This passage teaches us that to live in peace and harmony with our fellow brethren we must be the ones to begin. It tells us to start with being sympathetic, compassionate, and humble. As if that were not enough, he then goes on to say, if we truly want harmony we shouldn’t react negatively to evil insults. But, don’t they bear some blame here, you may be saying? I can hear myself saying those words to my father. I’m sure you’ve also heard his answer somewhere else before: “It doesn’t matter what they do—God will eventually take care of them. It matters what you do.” So, what are we to do, just stand there and take it? No. We are to throw a wet blanket on that fire. Send blessings their way. When we do, we will receive the greatest blessing—knowing we are living our lives, as Christ would have us to.

PRAYER: Lord, help me live out my faith today by being sympathetic, compassionate, and humble. Help me to foster true harmony with those who wish to do me harm by mastering the wet blanket maneuver.

“Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing,” 1 Peter 3:8-9 NET.

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell. Cheri was chosen as one of six Christian journalists for an Israeli Ministry of Tourism sponsored tour of the Holy Land in November 2009. To learn more about Cheri’s ministry, visit her website www.CheriCowell.com