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Romans 13:8 – Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (NIV)
Recently, one of my daughters had to have laser surgery to fix some retinal problems. It so happened that on the same weekend we went to visit her, another one of my daughters and I unfortunately had a "snafu": a euphemism for a misunderstanding or a falling out — it was not very pleasant, but it, too, needed to be fixed.
That relationship has always been a challenging one. Each time, I am driven back to Scripture and our Lord's words.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (NIV)
This passage is the gold test for love and loving relationships. The words are so familiar that it is easy to skip over them. Studying them a little more closely, we read that love is not easily angered. No matter how unjust that I might perceive the situation to be, I must not be angry.
Furthermore, I am to keep no record of wrongs. Ouch! That one really hurts. How many times in the past, Lord, and now this! The Word tells me not to keep a record of wrongs.
The passage also tells us that love "always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Those were my marching orders. I determined to obey them and not to feel hurt again. So I followed the route of occasional phone calls and e-mails, a continual attempt to keep in touch and never sever the lines of communication.
Just as laser surgery is an attempt to patch up what went wrong, so, too, are these steps to patch up what went wrong in the relationship. Happily, the lasering on both fronts was successful.
How are your relationships doing?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your Word is the guide for us in all of life's situations. We thank You that You are the great, invisible healer, and that You show us the better way. We praise Your name, and we desire to walk in the light of Your love, from now until eternity. Amen.
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Awesome devotional. Thank you.
Great Devotional Anne. Thank you.
Excellent reminder Anne. Thank you.
Thanks Anne — good use of scripture!
Thanks for sharing Anne. Good thoughts.
Thanks for this timely reminder about loving our neighbours. Much appreciated!
Amen and thanks for your great devotional message today and prayer. It was beautiful. I am sure it will touch many hearts today. May God continue to bless you and your family.
Not so sure you should be using anagrams. SNAFU is an anagram that stems from the Vietnam war. I don’t think you meant the meaning to wind up in a devotional, although I looked past it and appreciated you writing!
God bless.
Your Daily Devotional seemed to be talking directly to me. Lately I seem to be in conflict with a dear friend of mine. I am now going to work on my attitude and on our relationship. God finds all kinds of ways to give us gentle nudges. Thank you so much.
Ouch, indeed that one is tough we know but we work at it. We have never been able to show one child that he was treated fairly and we would like to see him more than once a year but we do not want to put stress on his marriage so we do not push.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Hello Anne: As I read your devotional I would have that you were writing about me & my daughters. We too have “snafus” as you call them. Thank God we have the Word to fall back on, or I may have kept the record of wrong going for a long time. Thank you too for the reminder. Sometimes these devotionals really hit home & this one did for me. Blessings.
Anne,
Your devotional today probably touched the hearts of every reader out there… surely mine. Haven’t discovered a perfect family any where ALTHOUGH growing up as an only child, certainly seemed a bit more stress free than raising three and keeping the communications open as they are now adults! Thanks for your reminder in today’s devotion.
(Texas)
Wonderful words. I have grown daughters with children of their own. We have gone through many “snafus”, some more difficult than others but we always kept the lines of communication open. Sometimes it was with great difficulty but it has worked. Love IS ever constant but it has to be nurtured. Many times it is worth “biting your tongue”. I think it is extremely important to never stop loving them, no matter how much you dislike them at some moments.
(B.C.)
I had to smile when I just read your daily devotional. It is so easy to forget to ask God to tell me what to say BEFORE I talk – and I get myself into a mess just like you and your daughter are in. I am asked to provide pulpit supply in small town churches, and always say yes because I learn from the study.
BUT WHY does God have to direct them to ask me EVERY time the scripture readings have the message of patience, forgiveness, love. NOW the 2014 PCC calendar has me grumbling.
First thing every morning for March & April I see the words SELF CONTROL and PATIENCE!!
Thank you for the time you gave sharing your thoughts on these two topics that God is trying to pound into my poor overloaded brain. May God help you and your daughter open your hearts and minds so the love can flow again between you two.
(SK)
Thumbs up to the write up.
Christians can not do away with forgiveness but the issue of not keeping wrong doing, hmmm.
Sometimes, when you let go, you are just reminded once more by the same individual in question.
Lets keep striving.
Thank You.
Thank you for this devotional. I have one daughter who holds old hurts, resentments, and harsh feelings against all her siblings except one. I have forwarded your words to all my children.
Thank you.