Greetings Dear Reader,
As I get closer to the end of this discussion, I find there
is a challenge that I must adopt. A few
weeks ago, someone was venting his anger at me with a good quantity of stored
up venom and vitriol. He used words that
he knew would offend me and attacked me in ways that he knew would wound.
In the midst of it I heard my heart say, “Forgive him, even
when he is still harming you.” Then I
remembered Stephen’s response when he was being stoned to death, “Father do not
hold this sin to their account.” As he
attacked me, I forgave him. As I drifted
off to sleep that night, I reviewed his words for my own sin and asked the
Father not to hold his against him.
What we have is enough.
It is enough to protect us from any verbal or emotional assault if we
let it. Things may hurt but they need
not destroy. What we must do is become
first and fast. We must be the first in
things that show that love is paramount to any other feeling, position, or place.
We must be the first to forgive. We must do it quickly and completely without
condition or caveat. We must determine
that forgiveness is not based on change in others but on the change love has
made in us. It is useless to wait for
others to change for us to forgive. It
only harms everyone involved and there is fallout for those around us.
It is also vital that we be the first to seek peace. We must do it first and fast so that
bitterness does not grow in us. It is
our obligation to be at peace with anyone no matter how much pride we must
surrender to achieve it. Frist and fast
at peace prevents us from collecting enemies and allows us to show love at a sacrificial
level.
When we see others in need we can be first and fast to
render help. Even if all we have is a
kind word, we do not know the good it can do when offered. I find that a simple act of kindness offered
does so much that I could not anticipate. I do not do this as well as I wish
but being intentional about it creates a deeper desire to make it a reality.
The bottom line is deciding that we are going to be first
and fast at showing, expressing, and speaking love into the lives of
others. We cannot control their choices
or responses. We can be there, loving,
forgiving, giving, and waiting with open arms.
I find both power and protection in this aspect of thought. There is pain but there is not damage. There is purpose and peace even when others choose
to remain at war with me.
Becoming first and fast at love has a price. We will have to shed pride, self-centeredness,
what we think are our rights, and the need for people to meet our needs. In all of those things there is a type of
selfishness that mitigates our attempts to love. Still, it is worth the effort and cost.
I must become the first to love and fast to show it. I need to radiate kindness and grace. I will always need to hone these things. I will always need to do better today than
yesterday. In a society where the memes
have more truth than the words we say, action to love first and fast stands
out. Many will hate us for it. Our errors will be held against us by
others. None of that prevents us from
choosing to love first and fast. I may
have failed at it yesterday but I can be quick to adopt it today. How about you Dear Reader? Care to join me in the fight?
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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Thorn:
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