Rejection…

Rejection…9-30-25

This large cat adopted us less than two years ago. My grandson called him “Barn Kitty”. He wouldn’t let us near him for weeks. He was hungry and had been abused. My grandson spent hours coaxing him with food and soft words. One day, his love sunk in and the cat was our new friend, but on his terms.

One day, Barn Kitty came to visit. He had a follower, obviously an offspring. The little kitten followed Barn Kitty everywhere. The dad was having none of it. He pushed him away, growled at him, and even bit his ear in an effort to reject the kitten. The kitten kept coming back.

This reminds me of life. I encountered my first rejection at birth. My mother, aunt, and grandmother made no attempt to hide, and in fact, reminded me continually throughout my 16 years with them. Their favorite reminder was that I was named by my aunt because my mother didn’t want me and refused to name me. My mother told me the last time I saw her that I “was never born”. I was “dead to her.” I have been rejected by so many family members, biological and adoptive, that my husband says I should be used to it. Why do you still go back? Why do you care?

A friend said this, “it says something about you”, your character that it bothers you. It says something about your love for people, and your love for Him. You care because that is how God made you. Psalm 27:10, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me."

Rejection will come in all forms throughout life. People, friends, family, career, financial, business, and even animals can be sources of rejection. Rejection doesn’t define us. Our attitude, and how we handle rejection is evidence of our character and commitment to God’s decree to love those who hate us.

Luke 26;27-28, ““But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” If you read further in this passage, Jesus goes on to give instructions of that love. There isn’t one place in this scripture where Jesus tells us to walk away and “not care”. He tells us to give, love, and “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” verse 36. Jesus explicitly tells us in these passages that even sinners are good to those who are good to them. Christ wants us to love those and do good to those even when they are not so good to us. That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I care. We have all heard the saying “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”, verse 31. It really is our command as children of God. I want my life to speak of God’s love, and that means in all things and in all ways.

You see, my mother was so right and so wrong. I was dead, but now I am alive. I was born again, but not to her, to Christ, in salvation. I am a new child. A child of the King. I am an heir to the throne. I look to Heaven and smile because I may be rejected by men, but I am accepted by my Father.