I'm reading a booklet called Love, More Than a Feeling. It's based on 1 Corinthians 13. Today I learned that without l
ove I am not a Christian. And it continued....Love is patient. I think of patient as waiting for something good--like waiting for Christmas or for my baby to be born! The definition given in the booklet was "bearing pains or trials calmly and without complaint; enduring suffering without complaining." Well that takes all the fun out of it! Where's my sympathy? Why must I suffer alone when I have loved ones about me to share it? But if I love the people around me, do I really need to include them in my misery? We're taught to share, but to share misery is uncalled for. To ask for prayer is one thing, but to complain or whine (not bearing trials very calmly!) isn't showing love for anyone.
ove I am not a Christian. And it continued....Love is patient. I think of patient as waiting for something good--like waiting for Christmas or for my baby to be born! The definition given in the booklet was "bearing pains or trials calmly and without complaint; enduring suffering without complaining." Well that takes all the fun out of it! Where's my sympathy? Why must I suffer alone when I have loved ones about me to share it? But if I love the people around me, do I really need to include them in my misery? We're taught to share, but to share misery is uncalled for. To ask for prayer is one thing, but to complain or whine (not bearing trials very calmly!) isn't showing love for anyone.The other point made in today's reading is the definition of kindness. When I think of being kind, I think of caring thoughts that may or may not lead to kind deeds. But, (you saw this coming, didn't you?), the Greek definition of kind is "to show 
oneself useful." Who'd have ever thought? It reminds me of the PBS Narnia production years ago when Trumpkin has lost some of his hearing and is told Eustice is here. "Useless! Well if he's useless' why do we want him?!" Indeed, what good are we to the Kingdom, if we aren't useful. We should all be striving to be Thomas the Tank Engines (a useful engine) of kindness in the Kingdom of God! If an action doesn't show caring, how useful is it? If an action is going to be useful----good for something--- then it will be a good, caring action. Some actions will indeed be practical, but are they not useful and bless others? Just think, what would be the use of smiling at the grouching, stopping to help someone when I'm in a hurry; speaking softly when angry. Any good there? Kindness can be mind-boggling. And what a good boggle it would be.
oneself useful." Who'd have ever thought? It reminds me of the PBS Narnia production years ago when Trumpkin has lost some of his hearing and is told Eustice is here. "Useless! Well if he's useless' why do we want him?!" Indeed, what good are we to the Kingdom, if we aren't useful. We should all be striving to be Thomas the Tank Engines (a useful engine) of kindness in the Kingdom of God! If an action doesn't show caring, how useful is it? If an action is going to be useful----good for something--- then it will be a good, caring action. Some actions will indeed be practical, but are they not useful and bless others? Just think, what would be the use of smiling at the grouching, stopping to help someone when I'm in a hurry; speaking softly when angry. Any good there? Kindness can be mind-boggling. And what a good boggle it would be.Today's reading was very challenging to me. How good it is to have practical lessons in the Word of God. God is so kind! I'm especially grateful He's so patient in bearing with me as I sometimes am such a slow learner. How great is our God!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment