To the Journal editor:

People of different races sometimes hurt each other, people within races sometimes hurt each other, people within religions sometimes hurt each other — both with their words and their actions.

Bad injuries to the skin (and flesh) of people of any color or even the same color, all cause red blood to flow. Does your behavior symbolize red blood caused by injuring people or a red heart — the symbol of love?

Hate results in hurts. Love results in help. Forgiveness can play a big part in unconditional love. Do you hate and hold grudges or love and forgive? Remember, forgiveness starts in the brain and is individual and done personally.

Justice in courts is a public matter and hopefully results in encouraging others not to break laws.

We all need to choose kindness over cruelty. Good and bad behavior both begin with the thoughts in our brain, so we need to control our thoughts in order to choose good words and actions.

Biblical wisdom can help us guide our thoughts. Philippians, chapter 4, tells us to think good thoughts, true honest thoughts, just and pure thoughts, virtue and praise. Thinking about good happenings and being thankful are also ways to steer our thoughts in an encouraging, not critical, direction.

Unconditional love is the way to have kind thoughts, words and actions — even loving our enemies. “… Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)

Three simple words can accomplish a lot: I forgive you

Two simple words can accomplish a lot: I’m sorry.