How we respond to others displays who we truly are inside.
It's easy to tell ourselves that we love everybody or at least we like everybody, that we ourselves are a loveable person, or a likeable person. Which may or may not be true.
Wow, I haven't used that much double talk in ages. It isn't difficult to see ourselves as we wish. We may even reject the observations others make of us, but Scripture tells us what is hidden will be brought to light. That what we truly think and feel about ourselves, other people or situations will be revealed.
Have you ever noticed how phony some people seem to be? They think they are being very real, yet we are able to see through their facade even though they believe themselves to be "well covered."
Scripture tells us that we are to "love one another, even as God has loved you." It also says, "by this shall all men know that you are mine, if you love one another."
Did you catch that? You need to know and trust that God does love you before you can earnestly and honestly give the kind of unconditional love that God has to others. Then, you will reflect who's you are. The fruit of the Spirit will be quite visible in you and in your life.
A nurse by profession, I work in a Personal Care Area. I am around all types of people, some have no control over their lives or circumstances so they make very sure they are in control of you. Then there are those who feel that simply breathing is causing too much trouble for others and they really don't want to cause anyone trouble, so they don't ask for help when they truly need it - hence, there are usually injuries of some type that occur. That's when I remind them that it's easier on them and myself if they call me to pick something up from the floor. Then there are the angry ones, the defiant ones and the ones that know it's ok to ask for help and when they need help, and the ones that are secure enough to trust others.
Adjusting to facility life is quite difficult. These people have left their homes and many of the possessions having worked all their lives to acquire them. Most often they have recently lost a spouse as well. What a terrible series of adjustments they have to make.
I can tell them that the little mistakes they make in adapting to facility life are ok; and reassure them that they will be respected and appreciated even if they forget something. We may even laugh together. But, if I can't respond to them with honest love from our Father they are not going to feel truly confident.
Loving others is not easy, I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father that he will love them through me and teach me to love them. We all need love and deep down inside we all desire to be loved, not isolated. We respond positively to love. And we see through the phony stuff very quickly.
So many words…what I'm trying to tell you is that loving others isn't easy, and it's ok to have to turn to your Heavenly Father and say, "I'm having trouble with your kid here. (kid can refer to ourselves or the other person) There is a part of me that just doesn't want to love this person. I know that you love them so help me to love them too. Fill me with your patience and understanding for this person, pour your love for this person through me. Allow me to be the hands and eyes and arms and smile that brings joy, strength and comfort for you. You have the keys to reach this person so Father, unlock the door of my heart and theirs that I may give love and they may receive love."
If we are not loving to others then what does that say about us, inside…that we are not confident in the fact that we are loved, or that we are placing that confidence in the wrong place or person?
People will fail us! That is a fact. God will never fail us. He won't leave us. What he's starts in us and our life he is able to finish!
Make sure you get that word "he". What HE starts, HE is able to finish. If we take over in our lives and try to finish what we believe he's started, what a mess we can end up making.
Isn't it a wonderful thought that we don't have to try to love others or even ourselves. That God does the loving and because he does, we are able. I used to try to love people, it's impossible to account for all the rejections. God's still working on me (as the song says) and I know that I'm not quite finished yet because every once in a while I try loving someone who is giving me a difficult time, when things get more difficult I stop to check out who's doing the loving here. Then I can get on the right track, amazing what a difference it makes!
