Loving--Even When It's Hard

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them." Luke 6:32


This verse was sent to me along with a reflection from our executive director today.  As I read it this evening, it really got me to thinking.  The reflection interpreted the verse in the way that it's easy to love people that we love.  It's easy for me to love my family, friends, and those who are dear to me.  Even if I do not agree or get into a fight with someone I love, my love for them is still there just as it always will be.  But then the reflections brings up the point, what about the people that you do not get along with? Not so easy is it? In order to be closer to God, we must love those whom we find it hard to love.  Throughout this year, I've been struggling to get along with my third graders.  Math is always a struggle in the morning.  Some of them are very rude and it's very hard to love them in those moments.  It was very hard for me to forgive the student that wrote the note about me a few weeks ago, especially when he did not have a consequence for his actions.  I struggled for awhile with it and I realize he is only in 3rd grade and I shouldn't hold it against him but I'm still human.  I did forgive him a few days later but it took a lot of prayer for that to happen.  This week when I start to struggle with my students, I say a small prayer for patience.  It's not that I don't love them but in my stressful moments, I struggle with loving them for that second or minute.  


After getting past school while reflecting on this verse, I started thinking about people in my life that I have struggled with for various reasons.  Not all of them are in my life directly still but I think of what I could have done and should do in the future to show them more love and compassion just like God does for us.  His love for us is so immense and perfect even though we hurt him constantly and yet we still cut people out of our lives for various reasons.  Now I'm not saying I haven't done this or that we do not have valid reasons but it just really put a few things into perspective for me tonight.


Being in the season of Advent now, we have been talking about how to open our hearts up and prepare ourselves for Christ at school.  I think I need to open my heart to those that have left my life but still need my prayers and help. It's a daily struggle for me to love those who have hurt me in some way but that's what we are called to do. 


Hope you have had a great start to the week! My countdown is getting smaller! Have loving day tomorrow!