forgiveness

So I just got home from church Bible study and it seems like each week the message is meant for me. No matter what you believe, I'm sure you would agree with my thoughts today...

The Bible says that "God is love" and to "love your neighbors" right? Well, today we looked at 1Cor. 13

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protets, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails."

I have heard this verse a million times in my lifetime. Today it is just what I needed. So I hope everyone reading this will assess yourself today with how you are doing on loving and forgiving. I really thank my parents for showing me this kind of agape love. My sisters and I have talked about this before and how growing up we can't think of a single time our parents argued or acted angry with one another. I now know that they too had hard times, but they never showed it in front of us kids. I thank you both for that. I know that sometimes I show more patience for other peoples children in my classroom than I do for my own child. I have many things to work on in this verse with loving like Christ does.

The part that really spoke to me today is the part that says, "Love keeps no record of wrongs." There have been a few things,(actually one instance) that I have not been able to forgive and to be honest, I haven't really wanted to. I've had an "I'll show you kind of attitude," which is being exactly the same as the people I need to forgive are. Today I realize that some people that I love the very most were not shown the same example that I was with how to love another, how to show love, or quite frankly just how to treat others the way you should. I really feel my parents have done such a good job of teaching this and leading this example to us. They taught us not to be so quick to judge people, you do not know what they have been through. They also taught us not to speak when angry because most likely you will say something you regret later and if it's not any of your business, then stay out of it! Today I am forgiving AND forgetting people who need only prayer from me and perhaps to take a look at this verse for themselves. (Mom, aren't you proud of the "and" in there?) I know that I am not perfect, I never claim to be. In fact, I do many things wrong. Many of you will be very proud of me. You know how this very instance has affected me. I'm moving on.

So sorry to go on forever, I hope this has made you think of working on something for yourselves. Many people need to be shown by example the way to be more Christ like. Thank you to all of my great examples of love by family and friends! Have a fabulous week!