Life is all about love.
I get that. I know that God is love and through His great love I am forgiven for my sins and made complete in Him. God spends time with me. He thinks about me every day. When I need Him, He is there. Jesus commands us to love others like we love ourselves. I still don't know that I'm doing that. On some days, I feel like I love others more than myself, and other days I seriously wish there were no people.
But how can I show God that I understand Him and deserve a place in His kingdom if I can't get the heart of who He is? Our souls are eternal, so are Faith, Hope, and Love. And those three things are hard to have in the material world sometimes. And this really runs close to my service yesterday, God wants me to love everyone. Even Patriot fans! It is how people will know that I am His. If we love like Jesus loved than we can say of our enemies "forgive them because they know not what they do". Jesus forgave the people who crucified Him. I believe when I get to Heaven I will meet the Centurion who praised God and said of Jesus 'surely this was a righteous man' (Luke 23:47 NIV)
Life without love is really worthless.
I think I have love in my life, my wife and kids love me, my parents and siblings, and my friends from church. And I love them too. But this statement is about the quality of that love. That love should be my number one priority. Not being loved, but loving others! And I show that I love others by acts, the things I do for them, and by the time I spend with them.
I'm good with doing things for people, in fact, I probably do more for people outside these four walls than inside them. That's what made this chapter so hard, I love my family, and want to provide them with everything they need, but I constantly miss chances to spend time with them. I don't know why I do it, maybe I'm afraid that I can't relate to them, I don't understand all the pokemon, bakugan, and other things my kids are interested in. I've tried.
Also, I'm bad to begin with about time management. I've got so many things that I need and want to get done, that people take a back burner. It's not just in my house, everywhere in my life I put the things that I'm doing before the people I'm doing them for. I'm great at solving problems, and attacking tasks, and also at just zoning out unfortunately. I get overwhelmed by the stuff that needs to happen and I shut down. That doesn't make for healthy happy homes.
I still feel guilty about this blog because it's hours I can spend doing other stuff. I hate feeling like that, but I don't want to give up on my commitment. If I stop blogging, I know I'll stop reading and these last 15 days, I've seen changes in my thought patterns, in the things I've been doing, and how I've been acting. There's more great things to come if I stick it out.
But, if when I get to Heaven I'm going to be evaluated on my love, and the best expression of love is time, and the best time to love is now, then I've got to get going. I can't wait another day to figure it out.
The Bible verse is from Galatians. Another letter sent to encourage and educate other believers.
The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."Today's question I have to answer and then work to change the answer. Honestly, are relationships my first priority? How can I ensure that they are? Honestly, they are not. I need to spend more time with the people I love, and show them I love them by giving them something I can never get back. . . my time.
Gal 5:14 (NIV)
Remember: Life is all about love.
This one hit to me too. It is hard, you want to provide and make sure they have what they would like, want, need, etc. Then they want you to play and there is no time. I missed a chance on Sunday b/c I was just too hot and done being outside. I can't go back and get it back. I missed out on 15 min that would have put a smile on my kids faces- for me to walk all the way down there to see this beaver in the water. Later in the evening don't you know that was the one moment THEY remembered from the whole day- not the sack race, the tug of war, water balloons, etc... but the one thing Mommy didn't do (chose not to do) It hurt.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much that 'needs' to get done, but does it really. That is the question I am asking myself these days. Next time they want you around, maybe you can set a timer and say, I'll be right over as soon as this goes off, or I'll stop this but only until the timer rings.
I have ried it, and when I go back to the chore, a few times the kids have come to help me. When I ask them why, they say, "so you can get done quick and come back outside" If they do come to help or you do it all together, take thier help as they give it. I used to care how everything was put away- not anymore. I am glad they help and try not to notice that the lids of the tupperware are in the wrong place, or the dish towel are not folded before they are put in the drawer.
And I will try and love a Pats fan too.... I enjoy reading these with you, even if I don't comment on each one!