loving people when it's hard
How can I not repay
There have been many times in my life, when someone loved me, and it was undeserved. There are still times like that. I have spent some parts of my life being unloveable, and people loved me anyway. Jesus loved me while I was unloveable. "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us."
Jesus loved me when it was hard. He loved me when I was sinning against Him on a regular basis. He loved me when I was lost. There are times when I would sin, horribly sin, and then I would immediately realize and start praying for forgiveness. He would comfort me. Jesus would comfort me, and I had just slapped Him in the face. I can't get over how merciful He is.
He rescued me from darkness that overwhelmed me. He rescued me in the midst of my pain. He didn't wait until I was cleaned up to love me. He didn't wait until I was doing what He wanted me to do. He loved me right through it all. He loved me, when it was a very hard thing to do.
People have done the same for me. I've had people hug me after I had sent them the most terrible email. It's a very merciful thing to turn the other cheek, and even moreso to reach out in love in spite of the hurt.
People have loved me when I didn't love myself. When I had no respect for anyone, and not even respect for me. People loved me. Jesus loved me.
How can I not repay that? How can I not show the forgiveness and mercy that the Lord showed me in my worst moments? How can I not love someone through the unloveable moments, when so many people have done it for me.
If it hadn't been for the Lord and his compassion, and the compassion of others in my life, I would not be here today.
I am surrounded by a beautiful bunch of people in my life, and I am happier than I've ever been. It took me so many years to realize that forgiveness is more than just waving blame and more than just saying, it's ok you hurt me. It's actually having compassion on someone, while they are still hurting you. It's looking into the face of someone that may not even be sorry, and saying, I love you, and I no longer hold this against you.
When they stoned stephen, he said, Lord lay not this sin to their charge.
When Jesus hung on the cross, he said, " father forgive them, for they know not what they do"
Loving someone while it is hard, while it is undeserved, is one of the best gifts you can give.
Give it today!
