One Small Step for Womankind

Don't ever let anyone tell you God does not have a sense of humor. All I have to do is look in the mirror to know that is true! I mean really.....someone who struggles so much with the love piece of the puzzle is writing about it? I think it is so interesting the way God teaches us. I know when I taught in public school, one of the best ways a child learned a concept was through teaching it to someone else. I think God is chuckling, saying, "Okay, Vee Ann, Let's investigate this topic and see where it goes." The other way He shows His sense of humor is by casually but constantly bombarding us with the subject He wants us to learn. It's like everywhere you turn, the subject keeps coming up over and over in many different ways. You see, I have no trouble loving God. He's so easy to love. He lavishes His love on me, and no matter what a jerk I am (and I can really be one), He loves me anyway. I may not always feel it, but I know that it is always there. He's gentle, and kind, and good. He's not standing over me criticizing and belittling me (although He has every right to). He's completely easy to love. I also have no trouble loving the downtrodden of this world. I get it. I've been so locked into sin and despair that I understand them. I know what they are going through. I can love them even though they don't appear to be lovable. It's not a bit hard for me. And I can forgive them over and over for mistakes and back steps. I made many of the same mistakes and back steps. I can also easily love my friends. They aren't always perfect either, but I have a history that teaches me I can trust them. They have my back. And I know that I could call and they would be right there. Many of my friends are Christians, which makes it even easier to love them. We have a great deal in common just through loving Christ. The group of people I have difficulty loving are those closest to me. I think the problem lies in that, unlike the other people I love in my life, I expect them to be perfect. I think it's because I care so much about them that I want them to always meet my needs, never hurt me, always be exactly who I want them to be. Over the years, however, they have proven to be human. They DON'T always meet my needs, they aren't perfect, and they do sometimes hurt me. I think that classifies them as human. Anyway, apparently I do not want to allow these people that luxury. And every time I am hurt or disappointed or neglected (real or imagined) by one of them I get out the old bricks. And I start stackin'. And once a brick goes up, I put so much mud around it that it 'ain't goin' nowhere'. It's always there. Just waiting for the next brick. So you see, I really don't know how to love. If I can't love those closest to me, I need a heart transplant. One of the things God has put before me during this season in my life is a study at church. We are studying the book "Multiply" by Francis Chan (author of "Crazy Love"). If you haven't read anything by him, get "Crazy Love" first. Anyway, the concept of "Multiply" is teaching and making disciples. Jesus called us to go and make disciples, a command we tend to skip over as we read The Word. Anyway, Chan makes some very good points about what it takes to be a disciple maker. The chapter I was reading this morning quotes l Corinthians 13:1-3: If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisey gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Pretty clear, huh.....I am nothing, I gain nothing. Chan says if we are not willing to make loving God (easy) and loving people (really tough) our highest priority, then we should stop being a farce and step away. He says this point is essential before any disciples are won for Christ. If you don't love people, you can't share God's love with them. Ouch! Heard another point this week that makes a lot of sense, something I definitely need to do. If we hear, hear, hear, and aren't doers of The Word, (James 1:22, BDo not merely listen to the word and so decieve yourself. Do what it says. we're outta luck. We have to DO. In my life, that means a 'doable' plan. I always tend to decide to do the last big step on everything I understake, get it all done in one fell swoop. You can't do that when you are changing who you are. And in order to change the way I love, I'm gonna have to change who I am. So, I am going to commit to one baby step in ultimately achieving that. For me, that looks like making lists of the best attributes of the people I have problems loving. What they do that is wonderful. I sometimes forget that. I think I hear another bible verse coming on: Phillippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. So, I will make my lists and read them daily and think about such things in regard to each of these people. What small step can you do to change the way you love?

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