Love is What?????
- Love is WHAT!!!!
Have you ever thought you had a handle on something? I know that’s how my mind works…I have a thought and then I catagorize and process it until it makes sense with my theology and my past life experiences. Well, I thought I knew what love was, I thought If I could just love like 1 Corinthians 13 you had all of love figured out! However, it’s the details of love that trip me up.
Perhaps you too have had an issue with understanding love? I know for the most part I have loved people with conditions all my life. You know, if you do this for me then you get my love, or if you act a certain way, or provide a certain task in my life to help me, then I will love you. Frankly, the more you did for me, the more you recieved my most precious treasure…my time. What I am discovering about myself is shocking…
“I have trouble loving those who have hurt me in the past.”
As a small boy (laugh, go ahead) growing up in Marion county, we were somewhat isolated from friends and neighbors on our farm/ranch. Whenever friends or family did come by it was such a joy you would never hold grudges or even care if they broke your toy or even ignored you. It was such a treat to have someone else to play with other than the farm animals or your aggravating siblings that you did not care. Today, however, I realize I am not a kid and I am more prone to identity problems or selfishness and just good old fashioned anger, so now when someone cuts me off in traffic…or that lady at Mcdonalds messes up my coffee mix again, and again, and again…I can’t say I love them…or even look at them with a smile for at least 15 minutes…can you?
This past Sunday one of our Elder’s wives, a lady with a personality alot like mine came to me with a word the Lord had given her for a family in our body…and when she said it, it was like eating a good Andrews SC bar-b-q…at first you taste the sweet and 15 minutes later the heat kicks in!
Here is what she said…
“Love is not measured by how much you give…rather by how much you for-give…”
Ouch
I don’t expect this to be a revelation to all of you, but for those who have suffered hurt deeply this will be a challenge. Can you let go of other’s past hurts toward you? I have realized I want my wife to forget my past mistakes as soon as she can and let’s move on. If you are like me, you too can say things and do things in an emotional state that if we had half a brain we would have never done, and when we have to face it…we want forgiveness quickly and are ready to move on!
Why can’t we extend that to everyone?
I have discovered in my life I have been quite selective about whom I forgive. Even though I know that Christ said if I don’t forgive I will not be forgiven, that has not stopped me. Some things I feel justified in…do you?
The truth is, no one has ever hurt as deeply as Christ has over us. Our backslidings, our denial, our arrogance and our rebellion is a hurtful thing for Him, yet he forgives…and forgets. Today I pray that I turn a corner on this journey I am on and learn that love and forgiveness must go hand in hand. Trust and love are a given, but now to add forgiveness to this………this is life changing!
God Bless you and thanks for even reading this…I’m a budding blogger, so be patient!
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Nicely said Tom,
I have a hard time with loving because I trust no one, everyone I come in contact with lets me down or hurts me in some way.
or they are more into themselves and love for themselves that they never really give there true love to you.
I could write a book on a loveless life but I really do try with all my heart not to dwell just to move forward.
I do know Jesus Christ loves me and that keeps me going each day.
The world have delt me alot of lemons but I do try to just make leomade from them.
Thank you for your support and reading! I am finding out that forgiveness can really be easy if you remember how much Christ has forgiven us…personally. I owe it to myself and others to let God be the judge not me. If He judges, it’s His problem, if I judge, it affects me and never the one who offended me. So to make it easy, forgive whether they ever ask or not! Live in peace with all men where at all possible, a good man said this…His name? Jesus!
Let me start by saying thank you for the last four years that I have known you I can say that you have truly loved me past my pain and in most cases my stubborness. I have also struggled with this issue that probably is not something you didnt know already. Anyways if I have truly learned anything since i have known your family it is that God is patient with us in all the lessons we have to learn sometimes he puts two lessons in one trial thats when it becomes fun lol. it is all a process dont be hard on yourself if you dont get it right the first time
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