I've been met with loving those who "despise" me or the actions I have. Loving those who made choices that hurt those who were offering help to them. Loving those who hurt me in the past. Loving those who love me just as I am. Loving myself when I struggle to love others.
I've sought wisdom from others. I've prayed. I've read. Though questions linger.
I told a friend this morning that I see this as a major challenge for me this year. A mountain to climb but a mountain that is worth the climb.
You see, I can love my family, my friends, the broken, the poor, the homeless, the murderer who is sorry, the sex offender who repented but I struggle to love.....
How did Jesus love the Pharisees and Saducees?
This is my question to explore, to pray about, to read about. How do you love someone who talks about you, who talks down about others, who judges situations as though they have never had a problem or failed, who picks and chooses who is "good enough" or lives the right way for them to "love".
My reminder is not so long ago I too was one of "those people".
I did not love the poor.
I did not love the homeless.
I did not love the person living or dying in a foreign land.
I did not love someone who was liberal.
I did not love someone who was conservative.
I did not love someone who was gay.
I did not love someone who was rich.
I did not love the person dying from AIDS.
I did not love someone who was thin.
I did not love someone who was fat.
I did not love someone who questioned me.
I did not love a drug addict.
I did not love the person trapped in human trafficking.
I did not love an alcoholic.
I did not love the abuser.
I did not love the person who went through a divorce.
I did not love.
You see. Even though I became a Christian as a young child, it wasn't until my adult years and not all of them that I began to love others. Remember, I had to learn what loving the Lord my God with all my heart, mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself meant. I cannot say today that I've accomplished loving all that I am to love because I struggle to love those who are like I use to be. I have to remind myself that God did a miracle in my life and he can do it in others too. My role is to show his love through my life. It was one layer at a time for my life. Maybe it will be one layer at a time for their life too.
In the meantime, I must love, extend grace, protect my spirit and pray.
As you read this maybe you see yourself or part of yourself in the words on this page. Love is a beautiful thing. It is a noun, an adjective, an action word. Love comes from the source of life, God. May you find yourself praying, seeking, reading, sharing the love that he created you in. The love He has given to all of us. The love we are to give to Him and all of his creation.
Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave
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