A Taste of Their Own Medicine
When people get a taste of their own medicine, they receive what they have given others. They don’t usually like it.
Medicine tastes better than it did in the past. Yet, most medicine still tastes awful. Children often fight taking it. The medicine lands on the child, adult, and anything else nearby.
Some adults pretend to taste the medicine. They act like it’s great. They know better. Many children know better too.
When adults get sick, they receive a taste of our own medicine. What they have given, they receive. The experience makes them better. Yet, the medicine still tastes awful.
A taste of their own medicine applies to behavior as well. What people give or do to others often returns to them. What goes around comes around.
- When people hurt others, they invite hurt.
- If people gossip, others feel free to gossip about them.
- If people don’t respect others, they probably won’t receive respect.
That doesn’t mean people should return evil for evil. In fact, Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
However, the truth remains: People tend to treat others the way they are treated.
Therefore:
- To be treated well, treat others well.
- To avoid gossip, don’t gossip.
- To receive respect, show respect.
Kindness to others does not guarantee kind treatment in return. However, it is the right thing to do.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).
Special thanks to Julie Posey Johnson for the photo of Ian giving Dad a taste of his own medicine.
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We can easily tie ourselves in knots. I don’t mean with ropes, but with how we react to circumstances. We cause ourselves to suffer with:

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Many dogs, like Tina, never have to live a dog’s life. Their owners spoil them. They receive all they need and most of what they want.
Swamps cover several parts of our world. Our lives often get swamped as well.
When we break a dish, we pick up the pieces. Occasionally we glue those pieces back together. The dish may not be as good as new, but it works.
Most of us feel under the weather from time to time. We are sick or don’t feel well.
I watched my Granny Childress sew many times. Sometimes she used a sewing machine like this one. Sometimes she sewed by hand. Either way, she knew a stitch in time saves nine. In other words, a little work now prevents a lot of work later.