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Set Reminder: Love One Another
Tim Savage5I am writing to remind you, dear friends,that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. 2 John
We are often reminded to love each other in the scriptures; I think there are 2 reasons it’s repeated so often. Number one, we are selfish beings by nature and see everything through our eyes and perspective. It takes a tremendous amount of effort for us to stop and see something from someone else’s viewpoint. Number two, not all people are loveable. There are a lot of people who don’t fit nicely in to my tidy and neat little box that I have set up around me. People are messy and unpredictable and life often doesn’t go as planned, so it’s easy to fall out of love for others. But time and again God says to love one another. He reminds us often and I’m thankful because I need it.
How can I love others? I can love others better when I’ve had a good night’s sleep. If I’m tired no one is loved well! I need to take care of myself first, then I will be able to care for others. Just last night as I got home from work, my beautiful bride had some “suggestions” for me regarding some kitchen operation. I was tired and didn’t receive her suggestions well, so I let her know what I thought about her recommendations. Although the food was hot, dinner was cold, if you know what I mean. It was such a small thing, that I quickly escalated unnecessarily because I was tired.
Another thing that I can do better to love people is to give them my full attention while I’m talking with them. I must not multitask or finish what I was doing. Yes, they will always (ok, not always, but often) interrupt at inconvenient times but I must improve at stopping what I am doing and give them my full attention to satisfy their question or conversation. It really doesn’t take that much time.
In doing these things I will also have more empathy and compassion for people, which is in itself love.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to love others with Your heart. Help me to put myself second and others first. May I reflect You to the world.
In Jesus name,
Amen
