Do to others what you
would have them do to you.
—Matthew 7:12
Before Jesus came, some had said, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.” But Jesus said, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”
The first form says to withhold injury lest you suffer injury in return. Jesus reversed it: what you would like others to do to you, do to them, whether they return the treatment or not.
Practitioners of the Golden Rule will forgive as they wish to be forgiven, will help as they wish to be helped, will understand as they wish to be understood.
We are urged to use our imagination, to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, and ask, “How would I like to be treated in their situation?” And then, treat them that way.
Push the “Start Button” on your imagination.