Recently a friend of mine dismissed me from his/her life, saying that, although I was generous and compassionate with others, I was not so with said person. That my pain and honesty was cruel.
So, I have had much reflection on this. Who wants to be measured by someone who is keeping score on what a gift may be?
But what I have thus far sifted from this passage is this: that with any disputes, missed communication, slights, neglect, even anger with friends–that what has salvaged and brought us closer, is that underneath it all was a core of love. Simply love. Sustaining love. It bears all.
Perhaps, as in some teachings, we have the people that we need in our lives for a reason, a season, a lesson. Yep. Forgiveness is a huge journey. One that we travel forever. I get that. It is complex and hard. Thank you, Jesus.
But to realize that love makes all the difference was profound to me. Again, thank you Jesus. Taking that into the wider world, not “lip love” as my father would say, but the showing of love seems to be our challenge. And that is a big one.
Once I said that it is easy to love someone; but to like someone is a blessing. I do like my friend…. but do I love that friend? See, it gets all in my head and my heart suffers from that inter spinning conversation. It can be enlightening, but so weary making.
What do I expect? What have I learned? Yet, more so, how do I carry that forward with others? Hey, World, know what I’m babbling?
Love. With all the messy, hurtful parts that comes with that simple, unexplainable word. Because, perhaps, it is not a word. It Is. It just is.
So, I will try to let go of those kinds of expectations from myself and others – while still expecting myself and and others to be kind, be just, be open. It becomes complicated in my mere understanding. That is why I lean on a God who surpasses our understanding. Yet, loves us. All of us. (I hope that She “likes” us too!)
Thanks for reading – shall we love one another without expecting to be loved in return? We shall see, my Beloveds.
Susan P
