Love doesn’t keep score of the sins of others. 1 Corinthians 13:6 (Message)
Hello Friend,
All of us are in relationships; we can’t hide or seek solitude on a deserted island, you and I are surrounded by people. When we leave our beds, we are greeted by our family. At work, the market, the gym, or the beach, we are forced to have interactions with people. They encircle us and entangle us in an intricate web. Some relationships are healthy and encourage us to grow and use our God-given talents and abilities. Then we encounter “those” people who have issues causing us to be miserable. Of course, if we are well adjusted, we learn to set healthy boundaries. Having been married for 50 years, I’ve often thought I would be a better Christian if I lived alone. Just kidding!
Do you keep score of the sins of others? I call this practice “Holy Bookkeeping.” Jim used to say I had the memory of an elephant because I could remember way back to some incident that happened in the first year of our marriage and bring it up in an argument 10 0r 15 years later. Seldom do I recall the hurt I may have caused another. My side of the balance sheet looks pretty lilywhite. Perhaps we all need to do a “loving check-up.” Look through the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians and see where you are on God’s loving scale.
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others.
Here are a couple extra hard ones: Isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle.
Puts up with anything, always looks for the best.
I think if you are honest you get the idea. Maybe instead of keeping score of other’s wrongs, we need to monitor our hearts, our mouths, and our actions. Perhaps our weighing machine will be more in balance; perhaps those wobbly relationships will achieve stability. Wouldn’t that make God smile.
Prayer: Lord, I know that you love me unconditionally; you forgive my sins and encourage me to grow in grace. Help me to love others as you love me.
Learning to love in a kinder, gentler way, Linda
Hello Friend,
All of us are in relationships; we can’t hide or seek solitude on a deserted island, you and I are surrounded by people. When we leave our beds, we are greeted by our family. At work, the market, the gym, or the beach, we are forced to have interactions with people. They encircle us and entangle us in an intricate web. Some relationships are healthy and encourage us to grow and use our God-given talents and abilities. Then we encounter “those” people who have issues causing us to be miserable. Of course, if we are well adjusted, we learn to set healthy boundaries. Having been married for 50 years, I’ve often thought I would be a better Christian if I lived alone. Just kidding!
Do you keep score of the sins of others? I call this practice “Holy Bookkeeping.” Jim used to say I had the memory of an elephant because I could remember way back to some incident that happened in the first year of our marriage and bring it up in an argument 10 0r 15 years later. Seldom do I recall the hurt I may have caused another. My side of the balance sheet looks pretty lilywhite. Perhaps we all need to do a “loving check-up.” Look through the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians and see where you are on God’s loving scale.
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others.
Here are a couple extra hard ones: Isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle.
Puts up with anything, always looks for the best.
I think if you are honest you get the idea. Maybe instead of keeping score of other’s wrongs, we need to monitor our hearts, our mouths, and our actions. Perhaps our weighing machine will be more in balance; perhaps those wobbly relationships will achieve stability. Wouldn’t that make God smile.
Prayer: Lord, I know that you love me unconditionally; you forgive my sins and encourage me to grow in grace. Help me to love others as you love me.
Learning to love in a kinder, gentler way, Linda
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