Loving when it Hurts

It seems like everywhere I go these past few months, God's been dealing w/ me about showing more love. To the ones who I (my own human nature) just don't want to. Why is it so hard to show love to them? Doesn't the scripture command it? I'm saved, right. Why is it such a fight? Because I want to protect and DEFEND myself. It would be interesting to know what other's have done to truly get victory in loving those who mistreat you. What's the secret? I know it lies in God and loving him. But, do you lose the desire to protect and defend yourself? That's what needs to go for me. Don't get me wrong...I'm not saying I have hate in my heart. I just want the struggle to love to disappear. I want it to be a natural instinct to love when others hurt me or those around me. One sister always says, "look beyond their faults and see [that person's]needs."

A few scriptures I'm meditating on:

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love as Christ hath loved us..."

I Thessalonians 4:9-12 "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the bretheren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."

This is a good devotional from the "Girlfriends in God" Ministry. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


"Mom, they were whispering to one another about the birthday party. They didn't want me to hear because I am not invited," my daughter said with trembling voice as tears filled her big beautiful eyes.

My heart was breaking in half as I listened to how hurt she was. "They are my best friends at school, Mom. Why would they not invite me?"

I reached out to hug her, our arms wrapping around each other tightly as she turned her soft tear stained face toward my neck. It was a familiar crying spot as she had buried her face there time and time again in the same position since she was a baby. We helped each other without speaking a word for a while. Sometimes there are just no words to make things better, so I cried with her. One week later, while driving our daughter to school, she asked her dad in a quiet voice if he would please stop at the grocery store.

"Why DaNae'? Do you need something for school?"

"Well, sort of."

"What do you need, honey, because we are already going to be late."

"I need to buy a balloon for someone who is having a birthday party tonight."

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Do you remember the girl who was whispering about her birthday party in front of me? Well, I want to take a balloon to school for her." I looked over at my husband and he looked at me, each of our hearts melting both with a sense of pride and of sadness. We knew we had to stop even if it meant we would be late. It was worth it!

Da-Nae' walked happily into the grocery store and in a few moments came running out with a huge grin spread across her seventh grade face. Her balloon was flying high in the air with a pack of chewing gum hanging from the bottom, acting as a weight. She was the happiest girl in the world!

My husband and I were so blessed by our daughter's actions that morning. She stooped to conquer feelings that could have been filled with anger and hurt. Some people might ask why she would make a fool of herself after being treated the way she was or how she could lower herself after what her friend had done to her. When Christ is the center of our lives, He empowers us to do things we could never do in our own human nature. Our daughter chose not to be a martyr. She chose to stoop a little so she could rise up on a much higher level. She chose to reject her sadness about not being invited to the party. She reaped the blessings of stooping to conquer her emotions and blessed her friend in spite of how she had been treated. When was the last time you stooped to conquer?