I Love People!

"LOVE people until they ask why and then LOVE them some more." 

There is so much heartache and so much pain in life.  Nobody is exempt from sadness, anger, fear, or loneliness.  I'm surrounded by trauma daily at work and at times it can be overwhelming.  Add to that stressful situations going on with people I know personally and my heart breaks.  The term "when it rains it pours" is so true.  A mother having to deal with her child having cancer and undergoing treatment; a friend in an unhealthy relationship; Christian parents searching for answers in helping their child overcome distress; marriages that are falling apart.   

I desperately want to help and sometimes I believe I can provide insight into the problem.  But voluntarily providing my opinions is not always going to be well received.  So I am striving to just love people.  I love loving people.  When a person is hurting, what they want is a listening ear.  I can do that!  When life seems to be crashing in, what people need is love.  I am praying for them, and I am praying for the appropriate words when the time comes for me to speak.  My witness to them is hopefully one of calm, non-judgmental understanding.  Preaching or teaching God's word is not a gift of mine.  In my job, I don't have the ability to openly witness either.  But I can hope whether professionally or personally that, if nothing else, I can demonstrate the love of Christ through my actions.  I want to build a relationship with people that impacts change. 

I heard somebody state the above quote this week and I thought "EXACTLY!"  It is a motto I try desperately to live by.   And I want to see people as God sees them.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7

"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind."