To Love Is...
Blessings dear community @ChristianFellowship, it is nice to be here, the peace of God be with everyone.
The heart can always welcome one more without having to 'abandon' anyone. They all fit in today and there is still room for a few more tomorrow. The more people are welcomed, the greater the shelter capacity. Loving is a privilege. Having someone to welcome you is a gift.
I like to think that the shelters in our hearts have their own characteristics, because each person and relationship is unique. Therefore, some houses are large and basic, others are small, but pompous. The differences are huge, yet all newcomers share the organization and beauty typical of a new home. And how pleasant it is to enjoy a new house, organized, orderly and perfumed.
This analogy makes me think that just as our homes provide work to keep them tidy, our cozy shelters also need care and a lot of dedication. It is good to have many shelters and even better to have beautiful, happy and lively houses. And in order for our relationships to maintain this beauty, we must take care of each one with care, after all, loving is a verb that requires practical steps.
God's word gives us great organizing tips to keep our shelters spotless. As we are approached by someone with boiling blood and a sharp tongue, we can remember Proverbs 15. 1 that tells us: "The calm answer deflects anger, but the hard word awakens anger." It is worth counting to 10 and responding calmly. Without a doubt, we will avoid conflicts that take away the beauty of the environment. And for everything to stay in order, an open dialogue is necessary. Nothing like listening before speaking. Proverbs 18:13 says that "whoever answers before listening is foolish and ashamed." How much clutter do we avoid when we let the person finish his thoughts. Loving is being vulnerable and listening without being defensive is a form of fragility.
Today's last cleaning and organizing tip is probably the most difficult and most essential. If we want our havens to remain in our hearts for many years, we must use and abuse forgiveness. Loving is a privilege. Loving implies giving. In Ephesians 4:32 we have a wonderful recommendation: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God forgave you in Christ." Loving is spreading acts of kindness, compassion and forgiveness. If we manage to implement this routine of organization in our lives, our safe and durable shelters and we will be excellent residents for those who protect us!...