Unconditional love
Do you know what Unconditional love looks like? Have you ever been able to really understand what it is? GOD helped me this week with a great example that brings it all into focus and makes it real for me. (But not yet do-able)
DH and I love family get together's. We have usually put most of our attention on his extended family, because that is how it was when he was growing up. A few years ago a young couple in the family were having tough times and we stepped up and were there for them to be a support in the family for them. It turned ugly and now we are pretty much shunned.
He has been making comments along the lines of distancing ourselves from them. He doesn't want us to keep putting ourselves out there for them to hurt.
This weekend they are having a baby shower. I am expected to go of course. We have been so busy I really didn't want to especially because they are also having a family get together on Sunday at the park for lunch. Knowing that I had only been invited out of duty, and that they really didn't want me there, I excused myself by saying that I would see them the next day.
There are other family members who are also on the outside looking in who wanted me to come so I said that I would be there for them. But I still have a bad attitude.
So I started talking to GOD about it. I asked HIM what I should do. HE said, "Think of it this way what would I do in your shoes? If I were you and you were them.
"Even when I am just invited out of duty I come loving you to death and beyond. I am joyful that you call on my name.
"You need to represent ME here and go with joy and love them no matter what they have done to you."
Great GOD. Now I just have to adjust my attitude. Working on that.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
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.
DH and I love family get together's. We have usually put most of our attention on his extended family, because that is how it was when he was growing up. A few years ago a young couple in the family were having tough times and we stepped up and were there for them to be a support in the family for them. It turned ugly and now we are pretty much shunned.
He has been making comments along the lines of distancing ourselves from them. He doesn't want us to keep putting ourselves out there for them to hurt.
This weekend they are having a baby shower. I am expected to go of course. We have been so busy I really didn't want to especially because they are also having a family get together on Sunday at the park for lunch. Knowing that I had only been invited out of duty, and that they really didn't want me there, I excused myself by saying that I would see them the next day.
There are other family members who are also on the outside looking in who wanted me to come so I said that I would be there for them. But I still have a bad attitude.
So I started talking to GOD about it. I asked HIM what I should do. HE said, "Think of it this way what would I do in your shoes? If I were you and you were them.
"Even when I am just invited out of duty I come loving you to death and beyond. I am joyful that you call on my name.
"You need to represent ME here and go with joy and love them no matter what they have done to you."
Great GOD. Now I just have to adjust my attitude. Working on that.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
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.
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