LOVE

Love is a strange thing. There are people that say "I love you" to everyone they talk to. That makes me wonder how do the people they are talking to know the difference between a passing word and them really meaning it with their heart. I had a dear friend that died a few years ago that I had known since I was six (over fifty years), he was like a father to me. He never said he loved me till just three or four years before he died. Did I wonder if he did? Not really. He showed he cared in many different ways. When he told me it was an affirmation of the actions he showed all those years. To me those are heart words. If they are spoken without any action they are just empty words. I don't mean we will always treat the people me love the best, we are only human and will mess up from times to time. God has spoken His love for us from the beginning. He also took a giant step in showing His love to us by sending His son. What an awesome gift of love. Jesus gave His life as a showing of His love as well. God doesn't speak His words in idleness. He shows it in many ways. What He does want is for us to love as He loves. I must ask myself do I love like He loves. I must say not always. But I will keep trying. I think that is the whole key to life is to keep trying to live as God has laid out for us. The words I want you to take away from this is "Love as God loves."

Let Go Of Life's Hurts

When someone hurts me it is sometimes hard to let it go. No one wants to be hurt but it happens to everyone. There are times I hold onto it like it's a good friend. I also know that is not what I should be doing because it keeps eating away at me. I am the only one suffering from such action, the other person has moved on with their life. I need to just let it go. Wow how easy does that sound? I don't always find it that easy. The best thing is to talk to the person and get things settled. When that is not possible, the next best thing for me is to write (go figure). Writing puts things out there where I can see and evaluate them. It might not even be as bad as I thought. The key is to get it released and move on. When I release the hurt I feel lighter inside. I am less grumpy. I even smile easier. What a relief it is to throw the hurt aside and get all with life. How do you deal with hurt? You need to find a release that works for you, then do it. Don't allow the chains of hurt to keep you weighed down, brake them and throw them away. Get your smile back.

Forgive how many times?

"Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" This was the verse on our devotional at work today. I really don't think Jesus was saying to keep a notebook of people that you have forgiven, then on number seventy-seven draw the line and throw them away. I think He is really saying to keep forgiving as He does. I am glad He does not keep count of how many times He forgives. I am afraid I might have reached my seventy-seven times a number of years ago. I know it is not always easy to forgive but it is necessary. Holding onto situations and thinking about it only keeps you worked up the other person most likely has moved on to something else. We all make mistakes, we are human. I guess we should ask ourselves "When I make a mistake do I want to be forgiven?" If the answer is yes, then we should extend that grace to others. Jesus help us to forgive like You.  Have a great day forgiving.