You receive without payment; give without payment – Matthew 10:8
If you know me or if you get to know me at all, then you will know that I love being around people. I love people and I see God through the people around me. I love meeting new people (although I am very shy) because I think that everyone has an interesting story to share. I can always learn something new from each person I get to encounter.
I enjoy doing things for other people or caring for them in any way that I can. I guess it’s the motherly instinct in me – making sure that everyone is okay, pleasing everyone. I really believe that time is the best gift you can give in a relationship, with anyone.
With that being said, there are times when I expect the same effort I put into building and maintaining my relationships be reciprocated to me. I feel like it should work both ways, especially for the close family and friends. If I give you so much of myself, I would think that it is only appropriate to put in the same effort towards me.
Wrong. If you feel love an receive love then your natural response is to love. If i am able to see God in all of the people around me, then I should be able to naturally love them with no strings attached. If God is within me and if I truly believe it, then I should let myself be used as an instrument of Love.
Sometimes we forget that our heart is not really our own, but belonging to the Lord. Sometimes we forget of our own capacity to love others. May we never forget that, just like the Father, we are capable of loving more.
Lord Jesus, begin a new work of love within me. Instill in me a greater love and respect for your commandments. Gove me a burning desire to live a life of holiness and righteousness. Purify my thoughts, desires, and intentions that I may only desire what is pleasing to you and in accordance with your will. Amen
