Loving Intentionally

Since the beginning of the year I’ve been working on loving people better, more like God would want, telling them what they’ve done to bless me, what they mean to me, and how they have changed or contributed to my life or happiness. Sometimes it’s sending notes, other times it’s a FB post or private message, and sometimes it’s in person, if I have the opportunity. What has most amazed me on this adventure to love people better is how much people don’t realize the positive effect they can have on your life. The responses to loving people more, or even telling people I love them, have been priceless. For some, they do not even remember the kindness that prompted my mention. For others they are amazed that the little thing they did meant so much. For some they respond as if they don’t deserve the genuine appreciation given and brush it off, and some are delighted that God used them to bless my life. This isn’t about me. It’s all about others and the observations I have made. I’m just sharing my adventures in living/loving more intentionally. Doing this has made me understand on a greater level how starved people are to hear something good or encouraging in their day. It seems people are prone to look for and point out the worst in everyone, even at home. Most often we do not even think to tell the people in our lives how much they mean to us. We just assume they already know. I assure you most do not. 

The second discovery I’ve made on this journey is that the general population -our neighbors- the one’s God’s word instructs us to love as we love ourselves, expect the worst and seem accustomed to receiving it. Such as the poor young girl working at our local fast food and ice cream shop the other night. A disgruntled patron, upset because she called to place an order and was put hold, hung up and drove to the store to cruelly chew out the young girl working hard at the front counter all by herself. The place was hopping and this girl had her hands full. Alex and I sat watching her. She’s a good worker and she patiently and kindly endured the abuse this patron was dishing at her. If I was in any kind of physical shape I would have picked the yelling woman up, tossed her over my shoulder, and promptly removed her from the premises. (I know, I know that’s not very lady like of me.) This woman’s upset and abuse was uncalled for. I was having a hard time loving her at all for a moment. Perhaps, there were extenuating circumstances....perhaps. Before Alex and I left I told the young girl that I thought she as doing a fantastic job running the counter all by herself....of course the yelling lady was still standing right there waiting for her food. I made sure she heard. This was the amazing part..or maybe sad part. The girl looked more surprised at hearing something good from us, than she did when the disgruntled woman was verbally maligning her and her ability as an employee in front of the entire busy establishment. Really, how hard is it to put aside our own selfish entitlement, our insatiable desire to have our chicken dinner now, over the well being of another person? When did mistreating people so thoughtlessly come into fashion? I don’t find it fashionable at all. It’s time for us to change the trend. It’s time to bring kind, respectful treatment of our neighbors and loved ones back into vogue. It is time as Christians to truly demonstrate to the world what loving your neighbor really looks like. I am glad God has placed this desire in my heart to love people more intentionally. It has not only been enlightening but also life changing for me, and I hope for the other people God has blessed me with in my life. It is my hope that maybe you too will want to join in this adventure with me. It is a journey worth taking for all.