I-it         vs.        I-thou

These is the two ways we can treat another person.

I've seen people as the 'it'. I try to forget about the 'I' part of that equation. They have been an 'it' too.

Who hasn't been bullied? Who hasn't felt alone? Who hasn't felt worthless? Who hasn't felt hopeless? Who hasn't felt like they aren't enough? But also, who hasn't felt happiness? We're all humans here!

I've seen 'I-it' equations. It is extremely... interesting to see from the outside looking in. The funny thing is, they both feel like the 'it' themselves, so they treat each other like the 'it'. I always felt like laughing and crying at the same time while wondering how to help. They were just both making it worse! Further and further and further!

When we discussed this way of looking how people treat people during class, I tended to look at other relationships instead of my own. But then, when Mr. Dye started talking about how he treated his kids and analyzing it this way, there was a new light.

Dang I need to be more careful.

Like in the story, I think siblings are the most prone to 'I-it' towards each other. Yet, we are with them the most and it hurts the most if our own family doesn't accept us for who we are. Friends, yes. They are important. Especially now as Mr. Dye said. But why does it seem to hurt more if you get less acceptance from your siblings than friends at school? Is it because we know that they know us better? Or does it hurt because we know that they don't know us as well?

My goal, and what I have tried to do for a long time, is watch how I treat my siblings.

I think 'I-thou' is the heart of charity. The pure love of Christ. That's why it is hard to do it all the time. :) We are not perfect.