how do i love..??
for some time now, i've been trying to work on some things in my life, and love was ond of them. and i was kinda having issues loving unconditionally. it's so hard......like of course, to love the ppl that love you is so easy....cuz it's just so natural that you wanna give them the best, cuz u kno they would do the same for you. but for other ppl...like the ppl that get on my nerves, or the ppl who only come talk to me when they need/want smthg from me....that really really bothers me. and it's so hard to help them out...or do whatever they are asking me to do for them. it's like i kno i'm supposed to....but i dont really want to....and then sometimes, i just kinda complain about it...and then leave it. and here i am....tyring to figure this out. i guess one place where my love is tried is at work. i work with diff ppl every time, cuz it's shift work, and everyone works a couple days, and gets a couple days off, so we all rotate, and the ppl are always changing. anyways...point is...there's always ppl i work with who dont wanna be there...so they sit and do nothing!! and when there are customers...they kinda sigh and make it a big deal of what they want....and some even throw down stuff...and just walk away.....expecting one of the other workers to cash them out...or to finish serving them....and i think that's so rude! and so i would try and do stuff...to help out everyone...like....i'd help get stuff for drive thru when i'm on front counter.......or i'd do the other chores if they were busy...and i'd help stocking, even if i wasnt assigned to it. and to be honest, i really dont mind!! i like doin that stuff....serving others. helping others. haha....just the other day when i was working...two postal ppl came in, and i greeted them with a HI! and they were like hi! how are you? and i said i'm good, how are you guys doin..? and u know what the guy said to me? he was like u kno what? u should be the new spokesperson for tim hortons! you have a great smile! and i was like o really..?? haha..thanx! u'll hafta mention that to my boss!! so i guess i am a cheery person?? i've been prayin a lot that He will work in me, and show other's how much love He has for them through me...the things i do, and the attitude i do them with. and today, i was preparing for sunday school, and here's part of what i read...i'm reading on what they have done so far, so that i'm caught up with them.(it's just some main points....)
real love is:
1. understanding:love understands that every one of us is a sinner from the inside out. as such, we always end up doin or saying things that hurt others. we each have things about us that can be irritating. love is willing to patiently accept others just as they are-flaws and all. love also recognizes the fact that we're all ppl in process. God is at work in our lives, making vital changes to our character....but this molding process takes time. it requires patience. love view others not so much as they are, but as they can become.
2. kind: kindness results from someone thinking of others as more important than himself. kind ppl go outta their way to creatively do little things that communicate love, acceptance, and affirmation. a note, phone call, small gift, encouragement, etc., are all ways in which someone can express kindness to another.
3. humble: paul told his readers that real love does not covet, brag, and is not prideful. in a word, love is humble. a loving person will rejoice with others about the good things that happen to them. a humble person will greive with those who are hurting. simply stated, love is not proud. someone said that the central letter in pride is "i". pride is a self centred attitude....true love is humble at it's core.
4. respectful: disrespect is the ultimate expression of someone's self absorption. it's when someone feels they are more important than you. disrespect can take many diff forms. ex. profanity = rudeness, inturpting = rude. rudeness is so common in our world today...love stands in stark contrast to such expressions of disrespect. love treats others with respect.
5. controlled: the Bible doesnt say that loving ppl dont get angry. indeed, Christ displayed enormous outrage when the situation called for it. He was rightly angry when His Father's house was turned into a den of thieves. it's not tru that love never gets angry, it's tru that love does not get eaisly provoked. loving ppl also learn to control their tempers, understanding and accepting imperfections of others. they expect ppl to do provocative things.
6. forgiving: love doesnt assume the worst of ppl. love learns to forgive, does not hold grudges, and does not seek revenge. loveing ppl choose to forgive those who wrong them, just as God has chosen to forgive us.
7. righteous: love doesnt compromise what is right. love draws linse around behaviour and defines for the objects of love where those lines are drawn and why. love never allows someone to go off and do whatever he/she wants, self destructing in teh process. love must prescribe boundaries. love is quick to reward what's right. it affirms in righteous behaviour of others. love actively looks for expressions of truthfullness adn commends those involved.
8.actively hopeful: love stands up for others, believes, hopes, endures, and ultimately never fails. love loyally and actively seeks the very best for the ppl who are loved. loving ppl seek to protect the safety and reputations of those they love. they believe the best about those loved. they are optimistic bout the future for those they love, and love continues even when it becomes tough to love. true love can be countef on...it will never fail.
and so there are so many things for me to work on.....and i will continue to do so!!!
stay tuned....there's more stuff i've found on love that i think are really interesting.....i'll post up more later...