Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
I am feeling really down today. No particular reason I can put my finger on just a not-so-good day.
Recently I started reading a blog again that I used to follow closely. And have remembered why I quit reading it. I start reading the comments and get all caught up in the 'hate' commenter's she has. And it gets my blood pressure up! And then I discovered the blog that is dedicated to discussing her and tearing her apart. Then I checked out another well-read blog and found she has a site of 'haters' too. It gets me down.
On the way home today a vehicle went tearing around me. They got slowed down by the next vehicle who was going between 55 and 60. Not too slow by any means. When they were finally able to pass they made an obscene gesture out the window to the other driver.
It got me down.
This world is so depraved!
And it's supposed to be the month of love.
(Hearts made by my girls...)
Where is brotherly love? Where is courtesy? Where is patience? Where is kindness?
(...and hung on the tree we used for our Christmas tree.)
Why do we all think of ourselves and what WE have going on over everyone else?
Why are we so quick to say that the lady over on that blog is lying? Have we walked in her shoes?
Why do we think WE have all the answers and could certainly straighten out everyone else if they would just listen to what we tell them????
Because of sin. This world is a fallen world. A depraved world. A dark world. A lost world.
Let's stand up and LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS! Let's shine a light of LOVE, Christ's LOVE, everywhere we go, to everyone we meet. Because who is our neighbor?? Everyone we come in contact with.
Love them as Christ loves them. Love them as we would love ourselves. That gets pretty sobering if you sit and ponder it a bit.
Love the people who show hatred for the bloggers I enjoy reading. Love the guy who doesn't know any better on the highway. Love the lady in the check-out lane who yells at her kids because she is so overwrought. (they were cuties but had WAY too much energy) Love the impatient, love the unkind, love the seemingly unlovable. It's only possible with Jesus' love in us.
And to bring it even closer home - love your teenager when she tells you she thinks you are stupid, love the 8 year old when she throws a fit and cannot be reasoned with, love the 6 year old when she refused to eat the food you fix. Be patient. Be loving. Be kind. Be Christ-like.
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." 1Peter 4:8
What are your thoughts on Loving your neighbor???
Labels: girls, hearts, kids, kindness, love, neighbor, patience, teenager, tree
posted by Sew a Fine Seam at
6:38 PM
15 Comments:
Amen sister!
Love your heart, jill. SO true. I read a hateful comment on a blog today too, and just thought what a different world it would be if we could all have grace for one another, and love each other through our shortcomings as well as our gifts. A well written and thoughtful blog post. Blessings to you, my friend, for your transparency and honesty.
I think people type things easily that they wouldn't always say! I don't like hateful comments!
I agree! Unfortunately I-me-myself- far too often act SOOO selfish. I hate being that way and I let Satan get me with the "self" trap far too often!
me too. And I wonder why my girls are so stuck on themselves and why they can't seem to put others ahead of themselves!
Thank you Jill. It was a rough evening with my kids and I soo needed to read this sweet post....love.
amen...i too follow several blogs where there seems to be a lot of backbiting going on...very sad. i too have fallen into satan's traps but no more! with our Lord's help i have learned to start looking at people a lot differently. thank you for this post :o)
I'm sorry you've had a rough day! I caught way too caught up a year or so ago reading a blog and then also her "hater" blog - it was like a soap opera. There is a really big name blogger that I can't read right now - out of sheer jealousy - but it just causes me to be covetous and discontent and I know she never intends her posts to be that so I just don't read it.
Jesus tells us "...in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I cling to these words. Were you at Annual Meeting the year that Vince Tye talked about not getting on his computer without praying first? I loved it... I try to examine myself prayerfully before getting on and if I find myself rolling my eyes, feeling jealous, getting irritated, etc. I sign off. Thanks for reminding us to love unconditionally.
yes! Joni, I was there! I remember that and I thought it was so great. Maybe I need to put a sign that says 'Pray first!' on my computer. It'sa amazing what you can get into - doesn't have to be porn to be a time waster and turn to sin. It can be just getting jealous. Or covetous. Or angry. Thanks Joni for the reminder to pray first!
Jill, your Dad recommends posting a scripture above the computer to help keep your focus where it belongs. Prayer is always in place in all conditions---Pray always! I think the scripture Joni quoted fits these situations so well. Keep looking up! Love, Mother
Just found your blog from Tongue-in-cheek. I totally agree with you. What is becoming of our world? It sounds like you have a great perspective though and I keep telling myself that God is in control believe it or not. Hopefully this is a little encouragement and your heart will be lifted as mine was after seeing all your darling valentines. This is one of my favorite holidays and I used to make all of my valentines. I really appreciate the creativity of yours. Thanks again.
Jill, I admit that I am not perfect and am often quick to put my foot in my mouth because I am so darned opinionated, but just recently I chose to exercise more tolerance towards others. I realized that I wouldn't want to be treated disrespectfully or judged without reason, so I am making a conscious decision to be a much nicer person to everyone I have dealings with. Just because I may feel wronged by someone, I should make every effort to forgive.
I'm asking for some help from the powers above on this and hope I can make some positive changes. :-) Sue
Love the prayer reminder! What a wonderful idea...so simple and yet, can make all the difference!
I love your blog, you are so creative and I love the fact that you love the Lord!
I would love to share my blog, http://thewordasilearnit.blogspot.com
I would be happy to add your blog to mine, would love if you would too. This is the way we get the Love of God out.
Traci
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Thank you for all the 'Fine' Comments! I enjoy them all!
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