I CAN'T STAND IT

Man, I couldn't make this stuff up!

Garrett is very affectionate towards me and loves to sweet talk me.  Isabelle can be very sweet and lovey, but it is on her own time and not as gushy as Garrett is. 

During a moment that Garrett's heart melted for me he said, "Mommy, I love you so much I can't stand it!"

Isabelle, standing close by, joined in.  "Mommy, I love you so much I can't stand you!"


Wait a minute!  What?!  

I paused to clarify.  

"Isabelle, do you mean you love me so much you 'can't stand it', or 'can't stand me?'"  I asked.

"I love you so much I can't stand you!"  She said with much clarity and conviction.

Oh, I thought, well, I'm glad I cleared that up!

As I thought about the two statements, I began to realize how true they can both be.  

Think about when you were first in love, or had your first baby.  Do you remember feeling like you just might explode you adored them so?  

I made up a song that says my kids are the only ones I'd eat.  They always scream like they're scared.  Eating them just seems to be the most satisfactory way to express the consuming love I have for them.  

My husband used to tell me he wanted to carry me around in his pocket with him.  I think he was getting at the same point.


Then, there's the other side of love that comes around after the newness has worn off.  Once you've been married a few years, or your child becomes a preschooler and you love them more than ever, but you don't like them at all.


Now which of these is a more noble love?


"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)  I bet He didn't like us much.


But as women, I'm afraid God charges us to do both.  

The "love" in Romans 5 is "agape," an unconditional love.  I think God made this more natural for women because not once are we commanded to "agape" love. 

We are, however, commanded to "phileo" our family.  This is brotherly kindness love.

"The older women...admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children." (Tit. 2:3-4)

In other words: be nice!

God calls us to love the ones we can't stand, so much we can't stand it.

MEDITATE ON IT

Which do you feel you struggle with most?  Loving unconditionally or being unconditionally loving?

What is one action you can take to be more loving towards the ones you love the most?

 What is it within you or within your relationships that your unconditional love does not always reflect in brotherly kindness?

PRAY ABOUT IT

Father, You are our every source of love.  Every bit of love we have within us comes from You.  Teach us how to use the love You have given us.   Teach us how to love all people the way You love them: without condition.  Teach us how to being loving towards those who mean the most to us.  Forgive us when we misuse the love you have given us.  Forgive us when we don't love, because You are love.  Thank You that Your love for us is not based in our performance, qualities, or personality, but simply that we are Yours.  

LIVE IN IT

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." (Romans 12:10)

"Jesus said to him,'"You shall love the LORD your God with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."'" (Matthew 22:37-39)

"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8)