An Ode to Cheaters.

"I love cheaters."

Honestly. I really do; I love 'em with all that is in me. I forever will willingly and whole-heartedly announce that I have an undying amount of respect for people who make the decision to cheat. But perhaps I should clarify a little bit before I go on here. When I say "cheaters," I'm referring to people who cheat the system. And when I say "system," I'm referring to this crazy {and regrettably, understandable} idea that's been engrained in us for far too long that we should have the right to treat people poorly if they treat us poorly first.

Let's break it down for a second. Someone treats you in a manner that you find pretty bad. They flake out on plans that you've had in place for what seems like weeks on end. They're having a bad day so, naturally, they decide to take it out on you. They totally bash your opinions or beliefs because they don't necessarily line up with their own and freak out should you dare to chime in. They ask you how your life is going, only to have an excuse to tell you all that's going wrong in theirs. They forget you exist for weeks or months at a time and then pop back into your life at random intervals, expecting everything to be exactly the same and you to be waiting with open arms. They let you do all the work and then try to take the credit for it. They fail to speak up for you when everyone else in a group is enjoying some "jokes" at your expense. They say things without thinking that are terribly hurtful and downright insensitive. They pretend to have your best interest at heart and then gossip behind your back.

We've all dealt with one -- or perchance, all -- of these aforesaid "slip-ups." And regardless of whether we're willing to admit it or not, we've also all been the perpetrators of one -- or more likely, all -- of these little offenses. Yet, somehow, when they're done to us, they seem so much more horrendous than when we're the ones doing it. So what do we do when these things happen? Well I know what I'm usually tempted to do. It goes a little something like this: "Shoot, that little [insult]. If they can't do this one thing for me or be courteous to me this one time or stand up for me just once, then why in the heck should I be any better to them?" It makes sense, I suppose. We tend to repay goodness with goodness, so why not repay badness with badness?

Well. Here's a thought: Because {whether you believe it or not at that given moment} just like you, the person you're dealing with is very much human. They say things without thinking and act out of selfish ambition and forget about plans that you couldn't forget if you tried. And generally, it tends to suck when you're on the receiving end of such terribly human behavior.

But what if instead of getting upset and doing something irrationally rude right back to them, you simply tried to love them a little bit more? You tried your hand at cheating the system. You showed kindness when you were shown meanness; you showed interest when you were shown indifference; you showed compassion when you were shown spite. Now, as you can imagine, this is quite a bit easier said than done. But, oh, is it ever worth the difficulty and the discipline.

To love unconditionally because we've been loved unconditionally by a freakin' crazy sweet Savior, to unceasingly forgive because that same Savior gave up His life for our own forgiveness, to be a little too patient and a little too understanding and a little too empathetic and a little too merciful. Because come on now, we've all had our days, and we'd most assuredly wish to have the same done for us.

Cheating the system is pretty risky. But then again, isn't that how cheating tends to be? How does that saying go? "Cheaters always prosper?" -- Maybe that's not quite it. But hey.