Nellie and Willie Olsen were the riches kids in town. Not only were they rich but they were spoiled, hateful and very prideful. When Mr. Ingalls fell on hard times, he took a job at the stables in order to survive. His belief was a man did whatever it took to care for his family and any day’s work is nothing to be ashamed of.

However, when Laura went to town, Nellie and Willie made fun of Pa, because he was dirty and smelled like a horse. He didn’t have a fancy buggy. He was just a man who was trying to get by.
I know this is just an old TV show but how different is it from the way we live today?
Jesus said in John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another”
That is easier said than done! This does not mean just who has the best job, is the cutest, holds a position in the community or the church. This means everyone from the one who has the most to the one who has the least. And yes, this means you even have to love your pastor! Hahaha!
We as a people put way too much emphasis on money, fame, prominence, looks and popularity. When we need to see everyone through the eyes God gave us to look through. To see our fellow man as a creation of God, rich or poor, man or woman, educated or not. ALL are made in God’s image.
As we see Nellie and Willie being so mean to Laura, we think what brats they are, but what does God think of the way we love each other? As I think about the TV show it makes me mad, but when I look in the mirror, I am disappointed.
Disappointed in myself for not looking through God’s eyes when I see you. Disappointed when I see someone begging for money and instead of looking through the eyes of God I judge. Disappointed that when I know I could do better but I do nothing. Disappointed that I am not living up to the commandment God gave us to live by.
My prayer this year is I can love like Jesus loved. I will not look to the person or the circumstance but I can see you as God sees you. I can not look at the person but at the God in the person. We all have faults and shortcomings but we as Christians need to see past this. As we enter February, the love month, can we look through the eyes of love instead of human eyes? Can we try to encourage each other, accept each other and love like Jesus told us to love? I know I am working on that and I hope you will too.
Yours in His service
Brother Paul