The girls who bullied me in middle school and high
school. The guy from the high school football team who humiliated me in front
of our class and said I didn’t matter and sucked at life. The girl who was
supposed to be my friend and betrayed my trust. The first guy that broke my
heart. Or perhaps the ungodly Christians I’ve met who have other people convinced
they’re good people? The list could go
on. But what good would it benefit me to get revenge on any of the people
listed above? Zero. Zilch. Nada. I have the choice
to move on with my life. Revenge is an interesting concept. On one hand, the
idea of inflicting the same pain towards someone that’s hurt you may bring temporary
satisfaction, but at what cost? I don’t believe it’s worth it – even if and
when given the opportunity. On the other hand, you can forgive and let go of
whatever it was that transpired. That’s easier said than done for some more
than others. I’m not a fan of actively seeking revenge. Revenge is God’s job
and however He decides to proceed is up to Him. Because the moment myself, or
anyone else, takes vengeance into our own hands, we’re inviting unnecessary
chaos and drama into our lives. Romans 12:19
reads, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it
is written, it is mine to avenge; I will
repay, says the Lord. Don’t seek revenge. Turn it over to God.
I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...