Today’s special edition post is from Tova Dad, my favorite daughter and Virtual Assistant. She lives outside of Amarillo with her husband and their two daughters.
Calling all adult fans of “Bluey!”
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Did you know there are multiple Facebook groups that are specifically for parents who love the children’s show “Bluey” just as much as their kids?
Well there are.
They talk about how specific episodes were meaningful for them as people, not only parents. So many episodes deal with ideas that anyone can relate to —
the boy who has ADHD (even though his condition isn’t named) and the new best friend he made playing Soldier with the boy whose dad was a deployed serviceman;
the girls playing hospital with the “early baby” to mirror the situation of one of the girl’s premature sister;
seeing children process grief by replaying a sad event without trying for a happy resolution;
the multiple episodes when the children learn and implement lessons on how to respond to bullying and other hurtful behavior.
It’s really a fantastic show. 10/10 should/will watch!
Here’s part of an episode that came to mind recently:
Bluey: Why do we have to go right now?Mum: Because I don’t want to be late.Bluey: But why?Mum: Because it’s not nice to keep people waiting. Especially Judo’s mum. She can get a little funny if you’re not on time.Bluey: Oh. Why?Mum: Well, I guess she thinks it’s rude. But it just takes ages getting out of the house.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because you kids don’t care about being on time.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because you’re too busy having fun. In fact, that’s why we’re going to the park. Judo’s been asking for a playdate for ages.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because you’re a lovely little kid.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because I put a lot of work into making sure you’re a lovely little kid.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because lovely little kids turn into lovely grownups. Like Judo’s mum. She really is lovely, actually.Bluey: Why?Mum: Well, when you were born, she made us five lasagnas. It meant so much to me. That’s the sort of person I want you to be.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because I want you to have a happy life.Bluey: Why?Mum: Because I love you!Bluey: But, why?Mum: Just because!Season 2, Episode 12 “Sticky Gecko”
It’s pretty hard, if not impossible, to love someone without wanting good things for them.
But what about those people that we don’t like? Or the people who don’t like us?
In Matthew chapter 5 verses 43-45, Jesus told those listening to The Sermon on the Mount,
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ [Levi 19:18]. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.”
Pray for those who persecute you — not in the way Jonah prayed for the people of Niniveh: “Get ‘em, God! Give them everything they deserve!”
Luke also records Jesus’s words on this topic:
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you… Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! … Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:27-36).
That’s a tall order (and a lot of text)!
And Jonah definitely was not around to get that message he really could have used. But, we need to remember that most of us are a lot more like Jonah than we would like to think.
Last week, I received a mass email from the head of a Christian faith-based project. At the end of the update, the email concluded with:
“I love you and want what’s best for you. That is all.”
This person can’t possibly know everyone on the mailing list, and there are certainly people in the world who do not support the project. But, it sounded a lot like the texts and messages I’ve received from my dad through the years, so it definitely stuck out for me.
And on the same day, I heard some truly heartbreaking news regarding people I have never even met. I heard it from people who do know them, and those people are people I love.
These strangers were not my enemies, but even if they were, I would be called to love them – to want what was best for them.
When those situations arise, or when you get news about someone who makes your life harder — an enemy, per se — let’s do more than pass on the gossip and say we’ll pray for them. Let’s ACTUALLY PRAY FOR THEM! Pray as if they were your closest loved ones. Pray for what’s best for them.
Put to use everything you learned with The Golden Rule, or in Sunday School, or even from Bluey.
Love them.
Why? We’re supposed to. Jesus said so.
Love them. Just because!
