You don't make peace with your friends. You make peace with your

O children of the future, gather close and hear a truth that resonates through the ages, a truth that has been spoken by the wise and the courageous, those who have understood the depths of peace and the strength it requires. In the words of Rula Ghani, we are reminded of the profound and often difficult reality of peace: "You don't make peace with your friends. You make peace with your enemies." These words strike at the heart of what it means to truly heal, to build bridges where once there was only division, and to rise above the hatred that divides nations, families, and souls. Peace is not something that can be born in comfort, nor is it the result of agreements made among those who already share a common bond. Peace is forged in the crucible of conflict, between those who have been divided, and it is this kind of peace that is lasting and transformative.

In the ancient days, warriors would often return from battle weary, their hearts filled with anger and resentment toward those they had fought. Yet, the wise leaders knew that to continue to battle meant endless strife, endless suffering. It was not the friendships forged on the battlefield that would bring peace, but the courage to seek reconciliation with those who had once been enemies. Alexander the Great, though a conqueror, understood the necessity of making peace with those who had once stood against him. After his great victories, he would often extend the hand of friendship to the very peoples he had defeated, not because he had softened his heart, but because he understood that only through making peace with his enemies could he truly secure the stability of his empire. The peace he sought was not a mere cessation of fighting, but the establishment of trust where there had once been fear.

To make peace with your enemies is not to surrender or to weaken your resolve. It is an act of profound strength, of spiritual and emotional power. The enemy is often not just an individual, but the forces of hatred, fear, and division that they represent. To make peace with the enemy is to conquer the darkness within oneself, to rise above pride and vengeance, and to see the possibility of unity even in the most difficult circumstances. Nelson Mandela, in his struggle against apartheid, knew this truth intimately. After spending years in prison, he could have sought revenge, could have demanded justice at the cost of continued conflict. But instead, he sought to make peace with his enemies—those who had oppressed him and his people for so long. It was through this act of grace, through the willingness to reconcile, that he laid the foundation for the peace and unity of a new South Africa. His ability to embrace his former adversaries, not as enemies, but as partners in peace, became the bedrock upon which true healing began.

Consider also the example of King Ashoka of India. After a brutal campaign of war, the battle of Kalinga left thousands dead, and Ashoka was overwhelmed with remorse. He realized that true peace would not come through the sword but through the cessation of violence and the establishment of justice and reconciliation. He chose to make peace with his enemies, not by defeating them on the battlefield, but by inviting them to join in the peace he now sought. In his conversion to Buddhism, he embraced nonviolence and dedicated himself to the welfare of all his people, regardless of their past allegiances. Through this transformation, Ashoka was not only able to bring peace to his own heart but also to create a lasting peace for his kingdom, one that transcended the wounds of war and built a foundation for unity and spiritual growth.

The lesson here, O children, is profound: peace is not the result of the absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding, of forgiveness, and of a willingness to rise above the pain of the past. "You don't make peace with your friends," for it is easy to build bridges where there is already trust. But peace with your enemies requires true strength. It requires the courage to face your adversaries not with hatred, but with compassion, to see them not as foes, but as fellow travelers on the path toward healing. This is the peace that endures, for it is rooted in the deepest truths of human existence: the ability to forgive, to heal, and to grow together, despite the differences that once divided.

So, O children, when you face conflict in your own lives—whether in your family, your community, or your nation—remember the words of Rula Ghani. Understand that the peace that you seek will not come through the destruction of your enemies, but through the reconciliation of hearts, through the strength to seek understanding where there once was only division. Do not fear the challenge of making peace with your enemies, for it is in this act that you will find the truest victory. And in doing so, you will create not just a fleeting truce, but a lasting peace that will transcend generations, bringing healing and unity to all.