Circle of Grace

Welcome!  This tour will take some sharp twists and turns, but I urge you to sit back and pay keen attention.  There may be something that you can relate to or learn as you traverse through the musings of my mind on the subject of Love.

Loving you is not easy because it goes against my natural reaction to your natural actions toward me. I want to revile again as you have reviled me. I want to treat you as you deserve, because that is the fair thing to do. I strain to do the opposite. Yet I am compelled by something greater than myself to be the bigger person. And it hurts. It’s not fair. I deserve better because I am ‘good’.

Ahhhhhh!  Why can’t I be like everyone else?  Why do I have to take the high road?  Don’t I have the right to fully express myself?  To feel and revel in my emotions for just a little bit…before I hear you saying, “You know better than that, so do better”?  Or “Your feelings will wreck you if you don’t check them”?

Am I not allowed to be human…for once?  No!  You are not only human!  You are a spirit, with a soul housed in a body.  You are empowered to go against the grain and live above what’s natural.  You are endued with power to do the supernatural.  You are graced with a super-human strength to love the unlovable.  “My grace is sufficient for you and my strength is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 paraphrased).

Okay.  So, it is a new day.  I have a new determination…again.  I am going to take a deep breath and once again patiently be good to you.  I am going to support you even when you find it difficult to support me.  I will gladly give you your props, rejoicing with you at every victory and letting the world know how awesome you are.  I believe the best about you, covering you in your times of weakness, all the while keeping it real and one hundred behind closed doors.  (1 Corinthians 13)

I groan under the weight of such a mandate, but I am encouraged because it was heavy for you too.   You followed through on your commitment.   You didn’t shift blame nor complained to your Father when the pain got unbearable. You toughed it out and pushed through even when you felt forsaken and alone.  You persevered because there was a ‘cause’.  I am persuaded to do the same and find comfort because I know you understand. 

Feelings?  What feelings.  I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God.  My affections are set on things above – not on the beggarly elements of this world.  I am a new person and my mind is renewed every day based on the knowledge of Him who created me.  I am not malicious, nor do I blaspheme.  I may get angry, but I do not sin.  Swearing?  What is that? (Colossians 3; Ephesians 4:26)  

Today I put on this beautiful dress. It is heavy because of all the rare jewels that were painstakingly acquired and sewn onto the fabric. Gems such as mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Peacefully and with much gratitude I walk through my day forgiving those who hurt me because it is the best thing to do. Love is the foundation garment that I wear. It smooths out all my bumps and holds me accountable to the greatest love of all, Jesus Christ.

And He makes me shine.  He puts me on display making all other efforts obsolete and unnecessary.   His love for me trumps all.  I love Him and aim to please Him which makes it possible for me to love you.  I love you!

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:11KJV)