Love is a choice

2008-01-18T14:09:00.001-08:00

The Lord gave me something this morning, and as I started writing it, I thought that perhaps it was meant just for me alone. Then, when I picked up a GR written in 1999, I was surprised to see how well the thoughts blended. Perhaps it's for someone else besides me. So here it is:

Mother Angelica says, "As long as two people are fighting, nothing good will happen - and we shouldn't expect the other person to change first."

How come? Why shouldn't the other person make the first move? Why does it always have to be me? Because God sees potential in each of us, and He doesn't allow situations to confront us unless He knows we have the potential for growth. OK, so what if we do give it a try and our attempt to be nice is met with sarcasm or rebuke (and it probably will be) what then? Will we throw up our hands and declare, "I tried. It's no use. You just can't be nice to some people. It doesn't pay!"

Perhaps before we make that move we should first examine our motives for "being nice." Is it to be able to say, "I tried"? For some of us that is precisely the reason; to get others to acknowledge our virtue. Is it because we genuinely want that person as a friend? But, at the first rebuke we quickly change our mind. Who needs a friend like that anyway? Or, do we act kindly, making the first move because we, too, want to see our own potential? So, instead of throwing up our hands, we choose the path of love.

If we choose the way of love, we will have to continually choose that way over and over again because one act, one word, will set our natural responses into action. We MUST choose love in spite of the snickering, the rebuke, the snide remarks. In every opportunity, in every situation, ours MUST be the path of love. What if Christ had given up on us at our first rejection of Him?

Today, the door of opportunity will open time and time again. The people we bump into at the store, the driver who cuts us off, the car behind us that honks at the first glimpse of the green light, the neighbor kid who throws something into your yard, these are all Jesus standing beside us asking, "Which path do you choose?"

Love is a choice. Let's make it a habit to choose love ALWAYS. It won't be easy, oh no...you may have to bit your tongue several times in one day but it will get easier and the reward is so worth it! Imagine the love of Christ exploding in your heart and life. Your life will be filled with Son-shine, and the pleasure of our Heavenly Father's smile. What a reward.

Joyce Meyer said that development of personal potential is each person's number one job. Each situation is good testing ground for our potential. (What did Christ see in us anyway?) We never know what we are capable of doing until we have to do it. What potential you and I have to love! Oh, wow! Care to dance, anyone?