I wrote “Love” with a needle and dark blue embroidery thread, intending to hang the finished cross-stitch where I would often see it. I stitched thousands of little x’s to spell out that word because love is what God wants me to learn and grow in. The cross-stitch is like a yellow sticky-note reminder, except prettier, and the reminder from God is: “Love Me, and love the people I’ve put in your life!”
A friend told me she thinks I do love people, but this friend is easy to love. God is teaching me to be more loving toward the ones I find hard to love. Love those who have hurt or betrayed or disrespected you. Love the ones you find annoying. Love the people you know will not love you back.
I’m so glad God is teaching me this, though the lesson is hard to learn. He wants me to love like this because He wants me to be more (and more, and more) like Jesus. He also wants me to know that this is the way He loves me and has loved me all along.
My “Love” cross-stitch project is not yet done. The word is there, but I still don’t know what to put around it—what colors, what design, what frame. When I say that love is the biggest thing God has been teaching me, I don’t mean that I’ve fully learned the lesson or that I now know how to love. I only know that God wants me to grow in it.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
– Jesus, in Matthew 22:37-39
Would you like to share a little of what God has been teaching you as you reflect the past year or so? Please share in the comment box. I’d love to hear.
Oh yes, loving those that are easy versus the ones who are unjust and sin against us. That is much harder. And its really the core of our walk with Jesus isn’t it? Learning to love this way. I have so many unfinished cross stitch projects in my closet, kind of like my walk with Christ, never truly finished until I see Him face to face. Thanks Monica.
Shelly, I know it. And even when (if!) I finish that cross-stitch, I still won’t have “arrived” in loving the hard-to-love. God help me!
Thanks for being here and walking the core with me.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, if I’m really a sucker for spiritual growth), those who have betrayed me are the ones I live with every day. So love is a minute-by-minute decision.
Mm-hm. Exactly.
Love God. Love God. Love God. It’s the only way to love others, right? To let Him pour His love through us? Even in–especially in–those closest relationships with those “irregular people.” Like me.
I’m so glad we have each other to walk together…
That’s it. Love God first. And the biggest reminder is the realization that I’m not exactly easy to love…
my prayer this year on this topic:
oh God, help me not to judge the people You have put in my life for me to love.
yes, friend. maybe “x” marks the spot, eh? a sweet, broken place to learn more about the One who calls Himself Love.
X marks the spot! I’m going to hang on to that one! Thanks for reading and commenting, Kelli.