Help Us Recognize October 10th as National “Love Your Enemy” Day
“Love has the power to rewrite history.”
The Petition
We, the undersigned, call on citizens and leaders—local, state, and national—to recognize October 10th as National Love Your Enemy Day. This day encourages people to respond to hostility with goodwill and selfless acts of kindness; and inspire efforts to pursue peace. It calls us to a higher way, one that chooses love over retaliation, compassion over contempt, and hope for the good of those who oppose our way of living. It is not a call to compromise with wrongdoing, but an invitation to deploy love that transforms conflict, trusting its power to heal broken relationships and turn enemies into neighbors or possibly loved ones. This day reminds us that even our enemies are worthy of dignity, respect, and sincere consideration. By joining together in this yearly observance, we affirm that everyday, love has the power to rewrite history.
Q & A
Q: Where did you get the idea to have a national day to love your enemy?
A: Through our experiences as a licensed professional counselor and community organizer, we have come to recognize that love truly holds the power to transform how we understand and experience the past. Love reshapes how we engage with the present and approach the future. We are deeply moved by Christ’s command to love our enemies, choosing compassion and mercy over revenge, as a profound means of transformation.
Q: What are ways I can get involved?
A: Sign the petition. Share the petition. Pray for our efforts. Follow us on social media. Subscribe to our newsletter. Contact us if you would like to help with an outreach or invite us to come and speak to your organization.
Q: “Why would I love someone who has deeply hurt or is seeking to hurt me?”
A: Loving someone who has hurt you isn’t about excusing their actions or allowing more harm, it’s about choosing freedom. When you love your enemy, you refuse to let their wrongdoing define your heart. This kind of love, rooted in Christ, sees beyond the offense to the brokenness beneath it. It’s not blind or weak, but a courageous act that transforms pain into power. As Martin Luther King Jr. taught, love not only frees the one who forgives but can also liberate the offender from the bondage of their own hate. By responding with mercy instead of revenge, you align yourself with the love that conquered the cross and show that even in the face of evil, love can still rewrite the story.
Q: What is an enemy?
A: In the broadest sense, an enemy can be anyone with whom we experience conflict or opposition, ranging from a sibling rival, business competitor, or former friend or partner, to someone actively seeking to seriously harm or undermine us.
Q: What does it mean to love an enemy?
A: To love an enemy means choosing compassion, empathy, and forgiveness over hatred, revenge, or resentment, even when wronged. It involves seeing the humanity in those who oppose or hurt us, responding with kindness instead of retaliation, and seeking understanding or peace rather than conflict. Loving an enemy does not mean condoning harmful behavior, but rather refusing to let anger or bitterness define our response.
Q: Do you have to be a pacifist to sign the petition?
A: No, you do not have to be a pacifist to sign the petition, we are not pacifist ourselves, this effort is open to anyone who believes in the power of love, compassion, and non-retaliation as a force for change. While pacifists are certainly welcome and may find deep alignment with the message, the call to love our enemies transcends any single philosophy or political stance. It invites people from all walks of life to choose mercy over revenge and healing over harm.
Q: What are practical ways to love an enemy?
In a Christian context, loving an enemy reflects Christ’s teachings and example. Here are some meaningful ways to live out this command:
Pray for them: As Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:44, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Prayer softens the heart and opens the door to healing, both for ourselves and the other person.
Forgive them: Following Christ's model on the cross ("Father, forgive them..."), choosing to forgive, even when it's difficult, is a radical act of love and freedom.
Speak and act with kindness: Responding to hostility with gentleness and grace demonstrates God’s love in action (Romans 12:20: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him…”).
Resist retaliation: Jesus calls us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), challenging us to reject the cycle of vengeance and instead pursue peace.
See them as God sees them: Recognize that every person, even an enemy, is made in the image of God and loved by Him. This perspective helps shift our view from judgment to compassion.
Set boundaries with love: Loving an enemy doesn’t mean enabling harm. Setting healthy, respectful boundaries honors both their dignity and your own.
Seek reconciliation when possible: If safe and appropriate, take steps toward restoring peace in strained relationships, reflecting God’s desire for unity and wholeness.
These practices are not easy, but they are transformative. Loving our enemies aligns us with the mind and heart of Jesus and becomes a witness to the power of His grace in a broken world.