Let the Love Flow!! As we begin the month of February, I will be
focusing on love verses, and all the examples Jesus helps us to see love
throughout the Bible. I have to share; this crossed my mind, especially this
past week. Day after day, I saw
situations where love was absent. There
were small places and large places, but around every corner the need to be
first, or right, or better, or pride, took over the need to be together.
It started with a snowstorm we
had on Monday. Driving to work that
morning, I was amazed at the people who could not wait, who could not let
others in on a merge, who needed to blow their horns in anger, versus having
compassion for others driving in the snow.
I got to work safely and pondered about the folks who performed those
acts. If they had reacted just a tad
differently, they would not have started their day off in a more giving way.
Throughout the balance of the
week, I continued to see it again. People
lashing out to others instead of responding with love. The need to prove “I am right” or “I am
better than you” took center stage. It
tore at my heart to see the body language of the folks who were the recipients
of this behavior. The look of rejection
or lack of self-worth was all over their faces.
I thought about my actions over the past week, and I am certain that I,
as well, did not respond with love in all situations. There were times when I could have chosen
different words or different actions to provide a better outcome. Reflect with me. Have there been times when you could have
responded with love? I can guarantee that although we may want to respond this
way, time or pride can get the better of us.
Paul reminds us of something important
in this particular verse. Love binds us together
in unity. As I look around my small world
and into the larger one, we all could use a bit more love. Instead of finding ways to bring division,
let us find ways to bring unity. It
starts in our own families – opportunities for us to share love versus contentious
behaviors. It starts at work, having
patience for the new coworker who is demonstrating difficulty for ‘catching on’
to new processes. It starts at the
grocery store by letting someone who only has one item to your thirty to go in
front of you. And, just maybe, it shows
up on the road, by letting the person take that great parking space versus you ‘gunning’
for it. Building people up. Binding people together. This is the love that Jesus wants us to
share. Think about the incredible and
unconditional love our Savior shows for us each and every day. Think about the unity He has brought into
your life.
It is time to ‘let the love flow’
and show the love Jesus has for us to others.
It is time for us to build people up and bind people together in the unity
of love. May we all focus on this in the
coming week and find a way to share God’s love with those around us.
Dearest Jesus, you so
freely share your love with us. May we
learn from the way you love us and love others.
May they know we are Christians by our love! Help us to identify moments where love needs
to be present – and may we be the ones to bring that love. Amen!
