Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’Matthew 22:37-39
It’s true.
I admire the way you comb your hair,
and the way you mow my lawn.
YOU mean more than what YOU DO;
yes, even what you do for me!
YOU are my neighbor . . . friend . . . brother . . . sister.
You? I LOVE!
By Martha L Shaw – © 2016
Acceptance
All too often I find this word to be avoided, to be considered negative, to be considered “here comes trouble!” My response to this truth was “here comes another positive word gone NEGATIVE, what a pity!”
I looked acceptance up in the dictionary and found that a primary defining word was “favor.” WOW!
The following blessing has been bestowed upon me many times, and I quote it from the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER:
“The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you peace. AMEN“
My friends, acceptance is a REALLY BIG DEAL and I am sorry to say we as a culture are not very good at it. We need to do better!
We are asked, no instructed, to love our neighbors and as holidays approach this becomes extra important for we are surrounded by lonely and physically challenged folks. We know we can help, but shy away saying “I can’t . . . because . . . “insert lame reason (excuse) here ______.
Reaching out a hand, extending a greeting, opening a heart takes so little and means so much. The Lord will rejoice in YOU and show you the way. You only need to be willing!
The gift of joy will change YOUR life!