Living and Giving Love

Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

The Lord tells us that the tongue "is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." (James 3.8)  People lie with it and say terrible things, things that hurt others.  Most don't do this on a regular basis; sometimes their frustrations, anger and hurt cause them to blurt things out that they may not have normally said.

And then there are others who do this on a regular basis.

I love the quote I posted above, because I believe all of us need that one person in our lives who knows us intimately, understands where we are coming from and can sift through the words that are blurted out in an emotional state.

Being a Christian does not make us perfect.  And that's okay, we aren't supposed to be perfect....yet.  That is something that God is working on, in us.  It's not something that we have control over.  There are things we need to learn along the way to heaven and if we follow His lead, we will learn them in His timing....which just happens to be perfect.

As Christians, we do have a responsibility to recognize this about ourselves and others.  We have the responsibility of being gracious (passing grace) and merciful to others.  I think the ability to be gracious and merciful comes from experience and from accepting and understanding the grace and mercy that God provided to us.

I often wonder if those whose lives have not been so easy or who have made bad choices in their lives prior to knowing God, appreciate and understand God's grace & mercy better than others who have not lived such a rough life.

Is it possible that they understand where another is coming from, because they've been there?

Because of this, can they possibly be that person referred to in my quote?  Someone who is able to sift through the words and throw out the "garbage," thereby enabling them to love someone who is unlovable?  I see the sifting of words as an act of love.

And loving is not a burden.  Although when you think a person is unlovable, it can seem that way.

Loving an unlovable person is not a duty, it is a matter of the heart.  Duties are burdens and loving someone else should not be a burden.  Jesus said....

"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11.30

Relationships are not burdens.  Loving someone else, even when they are unlovable, is not a burden.

But sometimes others are not able love you.

And that's okay

As long as you understand you are not required to make someone else love you.  Most often, there is nothing you can do about it.

Just love God first and foremost and the loving others part will come naturally...even when they don't love you back.

May the Lord bless you with an abundantly soft and loving heart.