In the lead up to Christmas gatherings with friends & family. I thought we would reflect upon how to love those who we may find difficult to love.
So grab you’re favourite hot beverage, a treat & get comfy for our time together.
I thought I’d have a mug of Caramel Coffee Latté with a little Butterscotch in it that was recently gifted to me by my daughter & grandsons when they were visiting recently from interstate.
And my treat is a gf Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Bar both delicious! Now we’re comfy lets begin…
You may have noticed that love has many levels?
Why are there so many levels of Love? This is an interesting question, one that I know many struggle with in life. For I know there are those who find it difficult to love & to accept love from others.
There can be many reasons for this, some are; due to their particular upbringing, a traumatic experience, emotional pain or Neuro divergency. However that doesn’t mean the ability to both love others or accept love isn’t present.
What is love anyway?
The following scripture gives a detailed definition of love;
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor 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.”
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NIV
Now to love others in this way seems an impossible task! And quite frankly it is! I mean let’s be real here, people can be plain frustrating, boastful, proud, dishonouring, egocentric, selfish, cranky & can keep a record of wrongs, as can we!
So how on Earth does anyone love others in the above way? I think we need to go to the source of love & that is…
“…GOD is LOVE.” 1 John 4:8 BSB
Well the following says it all;
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
You see to be able to love in the 1 Corinthans 13 way, we need to be connected to God. Oh we may TRY to love in that way, apart from God, but it will only be temporary we won’t be able to keep it up for us humans are flawed individuals where patient love is concerned.
But when we love through God’s strength, especially through His Son Jesus it is possible to love in a patient way, in a kind way & in all the attributes listed above day by day for they’re God’s attributes of love. And that’s how He loves us!
Let’s make this personal…
Recently, I’ve needed to draw upon these attributes of His love for some who had in the not so distant past deeply wounded me & who now want to reconnect.
Now I would be within my rights to deny this connection to protect my heart. But when you pray for people everyday & they want to reconnect, do you deny that opportunity that God has brought along? No!
However, I need to guard my heart, so to demonstrate love & forgiveness to them I have needed to draw upon God’s love & strength through His Holy Spirit.
And you know what? The more you allow the Holy Spirit to give you that strength, love & forgiveness for others the more it flows.
While I am still wise in setting personal boundaries with these others & will continue to guard my heart for God’s Word tells us the following;
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4: 23 NASB
I’m letting God’s love & forgiveness flow through His wisdom & discernment in the situation.
My friend is there someone in your life who needs your love & forgiveness this season that you may find difficult to love? It can only be done through God’s love.
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
& in Prayer
© 2025 Jennifer M. Ross, All Rights Reserved. Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com
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Amen, Jennifer! We can only love with boldness and sincerity as God fills us with His supernatural wisdom, grace and humility. He loved us first!
Amen…🙏🏼
Amen indeed & that He did Lisa, He loved us first! Lovely having you drop by today 😊
It’s so true–we can’t love others like Jesus did without His love. Remembering that He loves them every bit as much as He loves me helps me, too.
Yes, that’s a very important point Barbara, one that we need to keep in the forefront of our thoughts always. Lovely having you drop by today. 🤗
“The more you allow the Holy Spirit to give you that strength, love & forgiveness for others, the more it flows.” May we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us so that He can then work through us. Blessings today!
Amen Joanne! Blessings to you too sweet friend. 😊
Receiving His love and forgiveness enables us to turn and extend it to others, Jennifer. It’s only by His grace that we can love the unlovely and recognize something worth cultivating when it peeps its head out of the mess.
That He does Lisa! Lovely having you drop by today 😊
I remember praying quite a few years ago over a surly teen, “God show me how to love Him because I’m sure not feeling it.” And God did – allowed me to see this surly teen through His eyes. It changed my heart – and how I view those slings and arrows those who ought to know better don’t. You are so right – we can’t love like Him without Him!
I love how willing you were in that situation to love that surly teen with God’s love Maryleigh. ☺️
Jennifer, this is a timely post. I love this…”And you know what? The more you allow the Holy Spirit to give you that strength, love & forgiveness for others the more it flows.” When our heart has been wounded it can be difficult to open it to the one who wounded it. But the Holy Spirit will provide the strength to forgive.
Blessings sweet friend,
Pam
Thank you Pam & blessings to you too sweet friend. That the Holy Spirit does Pam. ☺️
It is important to love others even when we don’t feel like it.
That it is Barb. ☺️