“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” — Proverbs 10:12 NIV

Years ago a hospice administrator told me that she had to terminate an employee because he refused to visit a new patient. I asked her why and she replied that the patient was gay and that employee made it clear that he hated gay people. Now the administrator didn’t give me all the details of how that employee made it clear that he hated gay people or what he said about not wanting to visit the patient, but hatred is so unnecessary.

Everyday we cross paths with people who hold different beliefs and opposing views than our own, but it doesn’t mean they deserve hatred. We all deserve love, which can easily be shown through kindness and respect. We love someone because they too are human, and that does not require that we agree with everything they stand for or believe. Love appreciates and acknowledges others for who they are as people and doesn’t unnecessarily cause conflict about personal differences.

This week, when you find yourself dealing with someone different from you, choose to extend love to them just because they are human, too.