love

When you love someone, really love someone, you cannot seem to do enough

for that person.  You want to show her or him every good thing in life.

You have a burning need to express in every way possible the depth of your

devotion.  It becomes a driving goal to fulfill your love's every need and

desire.

This overwhelming spiritual, emotional, and physical connection to a

significant other is exactly how the promise of eternal life affects those

who accept God's plan of salvation.  They become one with Him; their

thoughts and actions reflect His influence in their lives; they are

incomplete without Him.

Because God's people feel the intensity of their commitment to Him, they

cannot hold the good news in check.  It is their belief that His message of

redemption must be shared with as many as possible and at every possible

occasion.  Acts of love and mercy toward others naturally occur out of such

deep devotion and affection for the Lord.

When Christ Jesus takes over the heart, it is impossible to wish harm on

others.  Offering grace, which is always unmerited by the very definition

of grace, is following the Savior's example.  When someone this week talks

badly to you, meet their anger with a peaceful response.  As you are

driving the car over the next few days, if someone cuts you off, resist

retaliating.   Instead, give that person room to move ahead.  Look for as

many instances as possible to show you are driven by a different kind of

passion - one that desires to soothe, not inflame; one that strives to turn

a volatile situation into a redemptive event.  Even if your efforts are met

with little support, you know that grace and mercy have been

extended----you can do no more.

-june kiwia'06