Nagging as a Sign of Love

When reading these posts I recall a couple memories that remind me of how love and compassion can be shown in some not-so-traditional ways: the first is that of a little boy pestering and teasing a little girl as his way of actually showing that he likes her, and the second is that of a mother nagging and fussing over her child to do something small like putting on their coat before they go out into the cold. You see, I agree with Chetna that "love is the essential ingredient in creating a hero," and I see that love in people like Isaiah and Socrates exhibited through their willingness simply to nag people!

In Socrates' Apology by Plato, Socrates spends his last moments of life giving advice, sharing his wisdom, and even calmly berating the audience around him. He could have remained silent, dejected or spiteful because of the judges' decision to condemn him, but instead he sought to use every moment given to him to benefit and teach others. His last request is that his friends would do the same for his sons: "I would ask you, O my friends, to punish them;…trouble them, as I have troubled you, if they seem to care about riches, or anything, more than about virtue…reprove them, as I have reproved you" (Plato 57). Socrates never apologizes for his constant evaluation and chastisement of everyone's actions, but rather he realizes that what may seem like nagging on the receiving end is really an act of love. Socrates demonstrates that he cares enough about those around him to try and help them improve themselves, which he cites as the "noblest way" (Plato 55).

Isaiah also goes out of his way to get into people's lives so that they might hear the truth he brings and change. His tone is very straightforward and even harsh, at times. He demands of his readers, "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast though not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding" (Isaiah 62). It is a message that perhaps not everyone would like to hear, but Isaiah demonstrates ahimsa, or universal love, by forcing others to face his truth.

One time when I was in a depressed-sort of mood during my senior year, I asked a friend why the people in band had chosen me to be drum major; I told them that I was no better than anyone else at most of the skills involved with the job, I just showed that I cared. My friend simply responded that caring was the big difference because so many people don't bother; they remain ego-centric and don't take the time and effort required to really care about other people. So the next time my mother starts nagging me about flossing my teeth or using a daily moisturizer, I will try to restrain my annoyance and remember that she is really being my hero just by showing that she cares.