by Joe Kirkpatrick

There is a lot of hatred in this world. Hatred of people of different races, and hatred within the same race as well. Also, there is hatred within families, and hatred of people who used to be in the same family. There is hatred of certain religious groups, special interest groups, and hatred of people we have had past relationships with. For some reason, some people evidently even hate God. (Otherwise, they would not use the phrase G-D.)

The problem with hatred is it usually hurts the person who hates much worse than it does the person or group that is hated. Hatred is like a cancer - in many cases it begins small, but then, left untreated, it begins to spread and consume. Before long, it is constantly always on your mind, in your heart, and interjected in to most conversations you have with others.

How do you get a handle on your hatred? Have a serious talk with yourself. Stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is my hatred of _________________ really worth consuming my day today, causing ME anxiety? (You will think about the hate a lot more than the person or people you hate will.)

2. Is this how I want to think and feel everyday for the rest of my life? (Can you really imagine having this in your mind when you get up everyday until you go to bed every night?)

3. Is it fair for me to place this hatred in my heart and mind over the importance of having meaningful relationships with other people or groups I do like? (Other people become uncomfortable and tend to shy away from you when you constantly somehow interject the subject of your hatred into the conversation.)

4. If this hatred could instantly be forgotten from my mind, would the quality of my life be better? (This one should be easy to answer.)

5. Would my children be better off if I get rid of this hatred? (This one is primarily for a divorced parent who hates the other parent. This has a life long negative effect on your children, even if the object of your hatred deserves it.)

Don't let hatred rule you, you rule the hatred. Let's make a simple statement that puts your hatred in perspective: No matter how strong your hatred is, it cannot be nearly as bad as having a child with cancer, or even worse, having your child die. Think about it.

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