Good = Hard

Losing weight, exercise, studying, working, eating healthy, relationships, quitting harmful habits ( I'm sure you can add to the list)...what do these things have in common? They are all good for us, but require self-disipline and hard work, right?
For me, relationships, is one I have the hardest time with. Over the years, I have learned a few reasons why, but I still need to be reminded. It is an amazing gift just to be able to 'relate' to one another in the first place.
Relationships with others are needed in our lives and can be blessing. And a relationship is required to know our Creator. A relationship is being connected to someone, whether it be romantically or platonic. ( Just to clarify though, I am not speaking of boyfriend/girlfriend or marriage relationships in this blog) Sometimes there are relationships that are a little more challenging than others, and frankly I think we, Christians, have fumbled at being examples of how to love the unlovable (hard to love). We can only do this in Christ, not on our own, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides (remains) in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5. For those who are skeptical of Christianity because of hurt feelings and such, know that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Romans 3:23 , it is "hard" to be Christlike and easy to fall into sin. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:14, meaning that it is real hard to follow Christ, but don't the things that we work so hard for always result in victory and accomplishment? Through the Word of God (the bible), we have all the information, inspiration, motivation, guidelines, and examples to learn how to truly love each other.
Back to those difficult relationships... We are commanded to love one another, but we can't without loving God with our everything..."'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39.
These are commandments. I need to learn to love others with patience, forgiveness, kindness, and goodness, like Jesus showed so that I may show my love to Him. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34 &35. And to love those unlovables doesn't neccessarily mean you have to fully engage with them, it may mean just showing kindness, and maybe forgiveness in your heart towards them. To love others is just to love. God is love, so if I am following Him that love should radiate. For example, a few months back I went to the tag agency to get a tag for our car. I am new to this town and I am not familiar with the set up in this particular agency. There were several lines filled with people, so I just sat (I had Audrey with me) to wait on the lines to clear. I got sidetrack looking out the window and staring that I hadn't noticed I was being called to the front. "YO", yelled the worker trying to get my attention, and oh man did my blood begin to boil! I went to her practically growling and corrected her by saying, "you call me ma'am!". Throughout our transaction, she continued to be extremely rude and I left so angry and upset at how I was treated, my first reaction was to call her manager....and I did. I called only to find out she was the manager, and talked to someone under her, only to feel pathetic and embarrased. I hadn't done anything but give her the point for getting under my skin and ruining my day and if she had known I was a Christian, I just ruined my witness. What I should have done was be patient and understanding. For all I know she could have been having a horrible day, much less life. I had no idea what her homelife was like, and her job had to be boring and repetitive. Instead I ruined my chance to show her that true love, that hope. It sounds corny, but it is true and what we are all called to do. That is loving the unlovable (because it is so hard, it reaps good things). I could have prayed a silent prayer and left saying, "I hope you have a better day, " rather than, "I am calling your manager!" Oh goodness, I feel worthless. haha! That is only one example too...there are so many times that I reacted out of selfishness, and what am I left with...nothing.
Like I said, I am in practice at learning how to respond in a Godly love rather than a foolish love.