Nourish Your Heart

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

John 17:22, 23 – I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

When the church was new, the disciples had all things in common. No one lacked because those who had, shared. Some sold their lands to help the needy. Jesus’ prayer for unity was answered. But how long did that last? Satan sowed discord and problems began in the church.

God’s people can only live in unity if they love each other (Colossians 3:14 – And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.). Christ is the hub in the wheel of Christianity. Too often his followers crawl to the outside rim with their own ideas. Then strife begins. We must return to the hub of the wheel for smooth rolling in the church.

Otis Skinnings reminds us of that fact in his chorus that we sing: “We have joined our spirit with the spirit of God. We are one in the bond of love.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love even when I don’t feel like. Help me look for your hand working around me and rejoice in our differences.

Love is getting up in the middle of the night to check on your child, even if she is 21 years old, just to see if her fever has broken. Love is spending time watching boring television so that you can spend time with your family members.

Love is not doing things for your children even though you want to make sure it gets done. Love is letting your children learn through doing things on their own, even when it is scary.

Love is praying for someone instead of nagging him or her to do what you think they should. Love is keeping your mouth shut when you just need to say something.

Love is remembering to say thank you, even for the smallest things. Love is praising someone with sincere words and encouragement. Love is rejoicing with someone without envy.

Love is explaining yourself even when you don’t want to. Love is expressing your feelings in a healthy non-accusing way. Love is setting boundaries and respecting boundaries set by other people. Love is hugging even when they are contagious.

Love is a meal for someone. Love is a smile. Love is concern and empathy. Love is a need to see someone excel. Love is a sacrifice that doesn’t feel like one. Love is working hard to earn a living so that your loved ones can do other things.

Love is a decision, a choice, and a lifestyle. Love can overwhelm us with feelings. Loving someone can hurt. Loving someone can become unbearable. Loving yourself means you might have to detach from some hurtful kinds of love. Possibly, that love is imperfect. But God’s love is perfect.

Love will help you understand what really matters. When we love with God’s love we can love unconditionally.

Philippians 1:8-11 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

God is love.

Parenting is hard. It involves being an adult and looking at things differently. It requires me to think first about the other person and what they are feeling. It brings up my own issues of abandonment, authority, respect, love and trust. It is about recognizing that I am tired, or upset about something else or hungry or feeling overwhelmed. Then I take a breath, reach out to God for strength and calm, and focus on the person in front of me.

When someone acts differently than I think they should have, the reason behind that action always surprises me. And if I approach them from my own limited viewpoint with my agenda uppermost, I have stopped any communication before it begins. Even if I would have approved of their reasoning, I may never know, because they clammed up and did not trust my reactions.

Listening, from a calm peaceful heart, with love and respect, leads to communication, healing and bonding.

Proverbs 18:13 Anyone who answers without listening is foolish and confused.

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily