Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Genuine Affection


Good morning everyone!! 

How are you today?  Inspired to have a really good day today?  I pray that for you today.

Now, I have a question for you today:
Have you ever found yourself forcing a smile and being falsely friendly in conversation with someone you just didn’t like? Have you ever had a friend you were only friends with because of the benefits that friendship gave you?

I’ve been thinking about that today.  I can remember a few instances of doing that when I was a teen, but what about since I became an adult?  Hmmm…

I read this verse today which got me to thinking:

Romans 12:9-10 (2 different translations below)

(NLT) "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

(NASB) – “Let love be without hypocrisy.   Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”

Hmmm…don’t just pretend to love others?  Have I been guilty of that – pretending to like someone, being false or fake with them – even being hypocritical in my friendship with them?  Yikes – sounds terrible! But - oh no -For whatever reasons, yes - I know I have been, and probably more than I realize.  Drat! 

How about you?  Have you done that before?

Well…unfortunately, we probably ALL have pretended to like or love someone at one time or another, for many different reasons, right? (and most likely none of them good) Although I can truthfully say that there are very few times I have ever felt true hatred for someone.  But I certainly have hated behaviors of some people – even friends and family!  And yes, even of myself (ugggh- sometimes over and over again!). But note there is a difference – between hating the behavior and hating the person

But do you think there is a difference between being nice to someone you have a hard time liking, and pretending to like or love them?  Hmmm…this gives me pause to think on my own thoughts and actions.  (oh flip-flop goes my tummy)

Conclusion: yes, I believe there is a difference; a difference which breaks down to intentions - what are the intentions of my heart.

Growing up my mother taught my siblings and I that if we couldn’t say something nice about someone, well then don’t say anything at all.  This taught me to always look for the good in a person and don’t dwell on the bad, (really hard to do sometimes, I know) so that I wouldn’t have to be quiet.  And, in so doing, my intentions became to find the good in people, even when I didn’t like them or thought negative things about them.  This I find is good, because it is real, not pretending

Now, I realize every single person on this earth has some good in them, somewhere, even if it is hidden way down deep, covered over with layers and layers of spider webs (wrong, evil)!    Yes – they do, WE do.  Until the day we die, every single one of us has the potential to turn our lives around, reject or clear out the spider webs (wrong, evil) and choose to do and be goodThis fact challenges my mind to believe it applies to some more notorious historical figures of crime and atrocities – but it is true nonetheless.  Every one of us has free will to choose what we will and will not do, no matter how hard it might be.  The difference in making that choice seems to boil down to how we are talked to and treated by others.

Think about it - If no one will encourage us or love us authentically (genuine affection, brotherly love), if people just pretend to like us (for whatever reason) or judge and deem us unworthy of love or wholly unlovable, then there doesn’t seem to be much incentive or inspiration to change for the good and to turn our behavior or lives around.  Right?

And – on another thought – we never know completely what is going on inside another’s mind or heart, right?  We may see someone who on the outside is physically well put together, beautiful, outgoing, cheery, smart and successful, seemingly everything going good for them.  But, on the inside, is this how they view themselves?  Inside, maybe they see themselves as too fat, too skinny, too ugly, too dumb.  Maybe they are struggling with guilt over something they did, making them feel unworthy of love or being loved.  (I don’t know about you, but I find myself struggling like that more often than I’d like. Fortunately for me, I have a great family and support system who love me unconditionally and won’t allow me to stay long in those kinds of feelings.)  But maybe this person is just putting up a false front, hiding all their hurt inside.  Think with me for a moment - if we just tolerate this person or pretend to like them, being friendly with them while we are around them, (maybe we are envious or jealous of them, or hurt from something they’ve done, or our personalities clash) chances are slim that we will ever know they are struggling and hurting inside. 

If no one takes the time to care about them enough – or have enough genuine affection or brotherly love for them, they may feel they are hopeless.  They may live their lives out unhappy, without love, and without giving love in return – depriving themselves and the world of the special gifts they have to give.  Or they may even decide life is not worth living.  Think a moment about this:

How many tragic suicides are there each day by those who feel hopeless because no one took the time to care enough or love them truly enough to see the pain hiding in their hearts?

So…joyfully today I set a new purpose in my heart – to feel and give genuine affection and brotherly love to everyone I come in contact with.  No more pretending or even just tolerating!  I will find the good and dwell on that good instead of the bad or negative I might see or know. 

My prayer for today will be:
Dear Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to see your Word and coming to the understanding of how to practically apply this Word to my daily living.  Please help me to love my fellow man with the love You have for them.  When I find it difficult, please place Your perfect and real love for them into my heart.  Help me be kind and compassionate, to love deeply enough to truly see, and to hold onto what is good.  Help me to be real.  Thank you God.  Amen.


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Mindful Days


Hello again from me - I know - it's been a while, a LONG while.  
Sorry - I have been procrastinating again - ugghhh!! Why I do that, I don't know. 
But instead of beating myself up about it (which I seem to do a lot) I am going to post a thought or two that have been rolling around in my head the last few days as I contemplated my life, my mistakes, my accomplishments, my intentions and my mentors.  I came across this Verse and thought it went very well with my thoughts:


Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

My  hopeful interpretation:
Teach us to number our days, to be mindful of each day, making the very best of each day – learning and doing what is right, and turning away from that which is wrong;
Concentrating on the gratitude’s we do have and not what we don’t have;
Loving those in our lives completely, giving all of ourselves, drawing our joy from these relationships;
Being happy with who we are, who God created us to be, and not trying to be or emulate someone else or what/who the world says we should be, especially for monetary gain or social position;
Being in service to our fellow man, being willing and eager to step out and lend a helping hand when needed;
NEVER bullying or willfully harming another, physically or emotionally in any way, no matter the pressure or reason to do so;
May we choose our role models carefully – from those who exemplify qualities of great character;
Walking our own conscientious path and standing up for what we believe;
Overall, rejecting folly - rather gaining wisdom, which is the highest and most attractive quality and worthy to be revered!

Lord, teach me to number my days so that I may collect Your wisdom and be pleasing in Your sight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May each of you enjoy learning to number your days and gain lots and lots of beautiful wisdom!!!!!
Peace
Until next time - hopefully tomorrow!
Blessings and much Love <3
Mindy