March 20: LOVE HAS THE KIND OF POWER THAT CRITICISM ONLY WISHES IT HAD.

Each day I share the readings from my daily calendar. I set these up about 4 years ago and have tweaked them as needed based on what works for me. You can do the same thing, I use my Google Calendar and repeat every month.

Affirmation: I am compassionate. I care about myself and others.

“When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.” (Matthew 9:27-31)
Who we come to believe depends importantly on two things:
1. Knowing the person who made the promises or spoke the words;
2. Our actions in response to those promises and words upon hearing them.

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Ponder, Personalize: As you read through Ephesians 2:8-10 notice the qualities ascribed to God. Ponder His Grace, gifts, handiwork, creation. 

Ephesians 2:8–10 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

March 20

LOVE HAS THE KIND OF POWER THAT 

CRITICISM ONLY WISHES IT HAD. 

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. 

PROVERBS 16:32 

 

My sons, Richard and Adam, used to be wild boys. Nothing's really changed, and today they're wild men. Now that they're grown, their love of adventure makes them a great team. But when they were little, they did what all siblings do—-they fought with each other. We hid all the sharp objects in the house, knowing they might be used. It usually started over toys or who was going to take the lowest branch first in a race to climb the tree. Fighting can be cute when it involves plastic trucks or barricades made of pillows. Our boys even­tually grew out of it. Some people don't. 

When our boys couldn't resolve an issue on their own, I would swoop in to pick them up, one in each arm. As their dad, I would try to approach the moment with tenderness and strength to bring a sense of peace, order, and calm in the midst of the meltdown. 

I often remember those days when I see people leaning toward criticism. Like little boys pulling hair and yanking toys, unfettered criticism doesn't show strength; it's evidence of weakness and insecurity. It masks itself as strength because it wants to establish dominance at the expense of relationship. It comes out swinging and yelling but is as transparent as it is ineffectual. Real strength builds up; it doesn't tear down. 

Love has the kind of power that criticism only wishes it had. Where criti­cism attacks, love mends. 
Sometimes love shows us our blind spots. Young and old alike have some­thing to learn. But love is always humble and always kind. It always wants the best for other people, and it's never defensive. Love sees who people are becoming even if they're not there yet. 

 

Next time you're tempted to lash out, go in for the hug instead. Even if your feelings have you all wound up, gestures of love toward others can bring down your blood pressure too. 

What kind gesture can you give to someone you've been harsh with today?