Love Requirements

We’ve all been in situations where our emotions have grabbed the wheel and driven us completely into a ditch. Or maybe you’re not as bad as I am so perhaps you simply chose to ignore a situation that warranted a response. Perhaps tradition, routine, habit or other priorities simply trumped the appropriate response to an issue.

Well, there I was dealing with an issue that I would have chosen to ignore for my own peace sake when I remembered a simple question a minister challenged the audience to ask themselves before responding to any situation. The question was simply “What does love require of me?”

If you're a follower of Jesus, it's a very easy question to ask.  I must admit that although I haven't always gotten it right, the pause and the question have certainly made the appropriate response obvious.  I've found that love loosens our grip to be right, to win or to control.  It helps us to grab hold of Jesus's words in Matthew 22:37-39 - “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.”  

Love makes the right decision obvious, provides appropriate answers to tough questions and throws regret right out the window.

I’d like to challenge you, whether it be a situation with your family, a friend, a neighbor or even a stranger, pause and ask yourself the question “What does love require of me?” before responding.  I guarantee the appropriate response will become obvious and not only will your human relationships change, but so will your relationship with Christ. I have a feeling that that’s the very question Jesus asked before dying for you and for me.  After all, love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13 - ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. 

Love Always,

Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy/

The Last Act of Love

I can still hear my father's voice singing "Three Little Fishies" to me and my sister, Joy, while he played the piano.  We'd stand there and giggle as he sang it because it was such a fun and happy song.  At the end, we'd put our hands over our mouths with wide eyes as kids do when they think they’ve heard a bad word. In case you’re not familiar with this cute little song, the lyrics went as follows.

Down in the meadow in a

little bitty pool

Swam three little fishies

And a mama fishie too

"Swim," said the mama fishie,

"Swim if you can."

And they swam and they swam all

over the dam

Boop boop diten datem whatem choo

Boop boop diten datem whatem choo

Boop boop diten datem whatem choo

And they swam and they swam

right over the dam

After being away from Los Angeles for several years, I returned home and asked my dad to play that song for me. He needed help getting to the piano, but once seated, gave it his best effort. He plucked at the keys and sang the words and smiled widely at me when he was done. I could see how proud he was of himself as I collected yet another golden memory in my heart. 

I've heard it said, "Grief is the last act of love we have to give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”  I would have to agree. My love for my dad was and is deep, as is the grief.  Deep from the memories of his silly jokes to hearing him call home from a trip when I was in middle school and say "I'll be home Friday, so don't make any plans, because you have a date with me."  I'd smile each time and say "okay" while looking forward to something special.

Although I grieve the loss of an earthly father, I'm so happy he is free and with Jesus now.  I'm sure he's playing the piano and worshiping with a joyful heart.  I smile at the thought of him singing "Three Little Fishies" to all the kids up there, but something tells me he's probably singing the words that he loved to hear my mother sing:

When we all get together

what a day of rejoicing that will be

When we all see Jesus

we will sing and shout the victory

Rejoice, Deddy!  You are free!  My grief is but a symbol of my love, but even in the midst of my grief, I rejoice with you.  See you later!

In loving memory of John E. Sheriff - Feb. 20, 1931 - July 7, 2019.

Love Always,

Shy