Loving Others Behind Their Back

Welcome back to my blog, ya'll! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start. 

I'm going to be completely honest with you: Sometimes I act like I'm on stage or in a play/movie wen it comes to loving others. It's one thing to be nice and polite to others, but it's an entirely different thing to be patient, understanding, gentle, and merciful. It's even harder to do so when I know they aren't looking at me. Take this situation at the grocery store for an example: A young lady is in front of me in the checkout line, talking on her phone, trying to talk to the cashier at the same time, then arguing with the cashier that one item was definitely on sale and she refuses to leave until talking with the manager, et cetera et cetera. What is her problem? Why is she so rude? Why can't she shut up and walk away? I'm scowling at her and rolling my eyes until she turns around and I flash a smile at her. 

It makes me sick that I can be so two-faced. I can be so fake and yet I know Christ calls me to live a life of godliness, patience, kindness, and compassion. I don't know what that lady at the store is going through. Maybe things are really tough for her and all she needs is someone love on her in a genuine and real way. I could have shown her how much God loves her by simply being a source of light and kindness to her, yet i completely blew it. Jesus even scolds people for being two-faced and only  loving those who love them back. "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (John 5: 46-48) The point Jesus is trying to make is be loving to everyone especially behind their backs. Love on others even if they don't realize you're loving them. 

It takes time and practice to live a life of placing other people's needs and wants over your own. It's not easy, but God promises us that he will help us show other people His unending love for them. We are called to be the light in an oftentimes dark and lost world. We can all make this world a better place to live by loving others behind their backs and watching others flourish from the amount of love and care we put into them. We all need love.

Verses:

"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." -1 John 4:19-21

"As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." -Luke 6:31

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." -John 13:35

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8



Be stubborn about fearlessly loving others with a sincere and grateful heart.

-Chloe