Believe it or not, Jesus’ words weren’t about weakness or surrender. They meant the exact opposite. In a simple but profound way, Jesus told His listeners to stand firm in the face of oppression and not back down. By refusing to retaliate and instead offering the other cheek, they denied the oppressor the reaction they wanted.

For the past couple of years, our Hillspring Youth has focused on gratitude for November. It just makes sense with the holiday season and, more specifically, Thanksgiving. Last Wednesday, I gave our youth a…