To Know the Love of Christ

Today, I’m choosing to believe the best. Give the benefit of the doubt. Not assume. And, yes, especially to “be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, even as God, for Christ’s sake, forgave me.” The noise all around us is deafening. In the midst of it all, what would happen if we chose over and over again, every moment, to love each other well and believe the best? Whether the other person thinks the way you think or lands on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, whether they act and react and conclude what you’ve concluded or not? Whether they make the same or the exact opposite choice? What if we took no offense? At all? What if we assumed they landed there based on careful and intelligent research instead of through ignorance or a failure, inability, or obstinate choice not to think it through? What if we swallowed our own pride and stopped assuming we’re right? What if we actually stopped accusing one another of selfishness, fear, ignorance, and scolding, and instead embr...

Never alone Never forsaken Praising His name We can never be shaken There was so much encouragement this week and so much extra grace. And I needed it badly. Over and over.  Rereading a chapter in one of my favorite books, Sally Clarkson’s  The Lifegiving Home , about how Jesus loved and served and encouraged His disciples in the upper room and spoke such loving words, challenging me to love and serve my family with true humility, just as He washed their feet and poured courage into their souls. (I may have accepted the challenge and taken it out on the shower, which was extra sparkly for my weary husband when he returned home from work on this crazy Saturday afternoon before Easter.) But seriously. Rereading this as we are all remaining in our homes week after week was such a timely reminder for me, and the words truly renewed my focus on this front, reminding me of my great privilege to love as He loved and serve as He served. I can, because He did. There it...