An irony…

Growing up, I have always been told by my Mother ‘You are the big sister, you allow your younger siblings have their way.’ Seems like a very Asian or Chinese practice which I still believe to this day is not wise. My younger siblings are not better off as a result of the practice, they are conditioned to think the world owes it to them.

As an adult, I am continually challenged in how I should respond to bad behaviour. It can be in the context of a retailer trying to con me, a repair person trying to fleece me, a misunderstanding with a neighbour, a friend who overstepped the boundary or being treated with scorn.

I choose to follow the precepts given in the Bible [turn the other cheek], made a little easier because of my Mom’s request to give in to my siblings all those years. Don’t misunderstand me, i am no saint. When faced with the situations described above, i do get upset and feel incensed but will then choose to give the other party the benefit of the doubt, or try to talk myself out of the anger.

But what I find disturbing is the fact that people, especially friends / acquaintances started taking me for granted. It is ironical that people typically will not treat those with ‘teeth’ or ‘rough edges’ in the same way. They would be more on their toes and watch their ways. But with folks who practice turning the other cheek, the antagonists would take them for granted and treat them like they do not deserve respect.

I find myself at the receiving end, even by friends [mostly unaware], being taken for granted and my feelings totally disregarded. Just as towards my siblings, my internal resentment meter rises. If I had been less accommodating, I would not be taken for granted.

A local drama series reminded me the dilemma.

Jesus knows what I mean and how I feel because He is also taken for granted [I am guilty of it]. So, I have a model to imitate and difficult as it may be, I will choose to turn the other cheek. May the resentment meter within me not react to the next instance of being taken for granted.