the toenail An Important Part Of The Whole

It’s February.  The month of love.  Commercially speaking, anyway.  All the other 11 months should be months of love, too, but stay with me as I use February as a time to learn more about the love of Jesus Christ and what is expected of my life, because I am His.

This year, I’m going to work on putting love above all else for 28 straight days.  I know, I know – that’s what we are supposed to do anyhow.  But I admit, my human self sometimes – okay, OFTEN – gets in the way of that.  The Bible tells us in Luke 10:27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”  I do passionately love the Saviour, and I want to be obedient in how I live.  That includes “loving my neighbor as myself”.  I do, actually, love my neighbors.  David and Gigi are terrific.  And I love Sarah and Dan.  Richie and Michelle.  Brian and his family.  I am blessed to share a tiny piece of everyday life with them, even if just passing by each other, or thinking of them when I see their homes.  But the Lord means EVERYBODY, not just those neighbors who are easy to get along with.  And not just your physical neighbors.  Think about this:  He wants us to love

– the little boy who makes fun of your child at school
– the newspaper delivery person who always forgets to put your paper in a water-proof baggie
– the homeless person who pushes her grocery cart down Maple Street
– the teacher who just doesn’t understand your child
– the ex-spouse
– the ex-spouse’s new spouse
– the girl who is now a woman, but years ago was mean to you
– the woman who acts like a girl and is mean to you today
– the unsmiling grocery check out attendant
– the neighbor who complains about how you keep (or don’t keep) your yard
– the politician whose sins are publicly brought to light
– the preacher who might step on your toes with his message
– the people you share the roadways with
– co-workers, including your boss
– family members, every single one of them
– people who slander you
– him
– her
– them…

You get the picture?

Just love, y’all.  JUST LOVE.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your never ending love and for the grace and mercy you extend to me new and fresh every day.  Please guide me and teach me this month about love.  I long for a deeper understanding of your words from Luke 10:27.  I want to be obedient to your will for my life.  Please open my eyes and my heart to sharing love with my neighbor as you have willed for my life.  Father, please reveal to me opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ through my actions and words.  May I be keenly aware of your presence in every moment, always.  I love you, Father God.  Amen.