Let Them, or Love Them?
by Christina Bledsoe
I recently saw an interview on the Today Show with Mel Robbins, a best-selling author and podcast host, promoting her latest book, The Let Them Theory. It is currently #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and Mel Robbins is on a nation-wide book tour, so you may recognize the concept.
“The Let Them Theory” is a step-by-step guide on how to stop letting other people’s opinions, drama, and judgment impact your life. Two simple words, Let Them, will set you free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory is “a groundbreaking approach to reclaiming your life by focusing on what you can control and releasing what you can’t.” (MelRobbins.com)
Sounds like a great concept, right? Someone cuts you off in traffic – Let them! Your husband loads the dishwasher incorrectly – Let Them! Your friend gossips behind your back – Let Them! This concept is sweeping the nation, and I have even seen Instagram posts of individuals getting “Let Them” tattooed on themselves. It is complete freedom from any worry, concern or regard for what others do or think of you.
I am a sucker for a self-help book, especially one that can fix all my problems with just two words. I was intrigued by this concept and almost purchased the book until I got busy, and the next shiny object caught my attention, and I let the book sit in my Amazon cart without ever purchasing it. And I am glad I did. Something did not sit right with me, and I could not figure out why.
It bothered me. I thought of the concept repeatedly. And, as a wise old owl once said, “If it’s repeated, it’s important.” As we focus on Living Like Jesus this year and the word Purpose this month, I found myself wondering how Jesus would have responded to The Let Them Theory.
Jesus meets the Samaritan women at the well, she has had four husbands and is currently living with a man who is not her husband. She wants to be left alone; He just wants a drink, so she gives Him one. He could have moved on, Let Her be. Instead, He chose to Love Her (John 4:1-30) .
Jesus and his disciples are walking in the crowds and a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touches the hem of his robe. He was in a hurry, he could have just Let Her go, but he stopped and Loved Her instead (Matthew 9:20-22).
Jesus is at the synagogue on the Sabbath when he notices a man with a deformed hand. He is confronted by a Pharisee about healing on the Sabbath. Jesus could have avoided the conflict, sidestepped the drama and Let Him (the Pharisee) dictate His actions, but Jesus chose to Love Him (the deformed man) instead (Matthew 12:9-14) .
As we strive to live like Jesus, I wonder how our lives and the lives of those in our community would change if instead of implementing the Let Them theory, we adopted a Love Them theory? It is certainly more difficult; it takes more time and taking the stance to Love them vs Let Them has the potential to backfire.
After all the cumbersome rules and regulations given in the Old Testament, I love that Jesus summed up our purpose with only two commandments: Love Jesus and Love Them. Now, that is a book worth buying.
