"Though I am wicked in all my ways
Purge not my heart I follow in wicked ways
Broken all our covenants, You find me vain
Stain on my heart so great but relentless you still gain. "
Lyrics to Protector of my Soul
Love, love, love...makes the world go round. Jingle from the cartoon Power Puff Girls. Three little girls with superpowers who somehow make the world better with their good deeds against an evil magician Mojo Jojo. Gone are the days when that's all I would think about was the next episode of a cartoon. Not so important right now. My topic today is the big "L" word. Yep, I said it LOVE!!!
Some time ago had an encounter that challenged my thoughts on this topic. Thank God for good friends, they are rare. If you have one, my advise, hold on to them. A friend of mine and I, am talking about another friend, got into an altercation which stemmed from what was really a misunderstanding. Long story short what I thought to be subtly criticism wasn't so subtle. I said stuff I shouldn't have said, they said stuff they shouldn't have said. The ability to launch sarcastic missiles plus ego was a good enough recipe for nuclear warfare. In some ways I was hurt, but I wasn't going to tell them because of course I was too proud to admit I had been grazed a little. So in my pride I made the conclusion, this friendship was not worth it. I went into a fit and decided to block them from being a part of my life in every way. Childish much, don't need to say it twice but it felt so right. It was my right to keep in or keep out a person from my life. I had a set of rules, if you did not abide I kicked you out. In this case, my sentiments, they needed to be put out. So without notice, they found their property on the lawn on the door a notice with the word "EVICTION" written in bold caps.
My good friend learned about it, me and my big mouth would not shut up, and I am glad they did, because it brought on a discussion that would later give me a new perspective on love. What is this true, wholesome, Jesus kind of love? I mean we have scripture all the way from the command, " Love your Neighbor as you love yourself" to the long elongated description of what love should be in 1Corinthians 13:4-7. Most if not all Sunday School children have memorized these verses. So its not a matter of not knowing the truth but a deficiency in applying this truth in daily living.
"Love is Patient, love is Kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
So I go on in mumbling my woes and Joe so patient, asks me just two simple questions. He refers to me by my real name, he goes, " Sharon what is love?" My response, complete silence. As if the bewildered look on my face wasn't enough he continues with, "What if Jesus did the same to you?" Dead silence again. I was silent not because I was under informed on the teachings on love. I wasn't delving my brain for answers, it was because he had blatantly pointed out a truth. My behavior was not in any way shape or form a demonstration of God's love. God's love was patient, kind, humble. God's love was not about who was going to hit the other person first. God's love was about overlooking fault and showing protecting a friendship even when a person has hit your last nerve. Our continued discussion on this topic helped me realize several truths. Love is not about how I feel, love is not about what I see, love is not about what I hear. It is not an idea. It is a conscious decision to pursue, consider and to embrace despite, in spite of circumstances.
To be Continued...LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND Series (Part 2)
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