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When our time on earth comes to an end, what will we be remembered for?
What will others say about us after we are gone? Will we be remembered
for our unending love and concern for those closest to us? Will we be
thought upon with fondness? Will others mourn for us and wish they still
had more time with us? These are simple questions that we should ask
ourselves so that we may reevaluate how we are spending our time. Are we
being selfish with our time and only doing things for ourselves and for
our own betterment? Are we doing all that we can to show those who mean
the most to us how much we love and care for them? Are we giving our all
for our fellow man and showing them by our words, acts and deeds that
goodness still exists within this world and that all of us are able to be
examples of love, mercy, forgiveness and a new beginning? Being
introspective in this way helps us to see if we are doing all that we need
to do to show our love, care and concern for those that we love the most.
One thing we must always remember is that life is short no matter how long
it may seem at times. Days disappear into months and months disappear
into years and before we realize it our time will come to an end. That is
why we should always be conscious of time and use it to our benefit. We
should always do all that we can to show our love and our care. We should
invest wisely in the lives of those closest to us and never leave any
doubt of how we feel about them and how much they mean to us. We may
assume that our love is known, but assumptions do not bring certainty. So
why not make our love known? We should do something special for those
closest to us for no particular reason to show our love, we should speak
words of love, write words of love, give more hugs, more smiles, more
affirmation and simply be that beacon of light and love. When we do these
simple things, we will leave no doubt about how great our love is for our
family and our friends.
Be encouraged to take the initiative to show how much your loved ones mean
to you. Don't wait for them to act first, but rather you take the lead
and be that example of love, hope and grace. Enjoy one another and
appreciate the time that you have together. Don't take for granted each
new day that you are lucky enough to see, but rather cherish it, relish in
it and use all of it to the best of your ability. Never allow petty
arguments or disagreements to keep you from those who mean so much to
you. Forgive quickly, love wholeheartedly and allow each day that you
have together to bring you closer in love and in oneness. Always remember
that our relationships with our family and friends are our greatest
blessings so let us do all that we can to become as close as we can. When
we do, we will see how truly rich we are in life.
I hope this message encourages and inspires you to do all that you can to
show how much your loved ones mean to you.
WHAT IS LOVE?
Diane Ackerman said, “Everyone admits that love is wonderful and necessary,
yet no one agrees on just what it is.” Over the years, I have been learning
what it is.
When I first got married, I wanted to show my love to my new wife. I was
drawn to romantic stories like one from the time of Oliver Cromwell in
England where a young soldier had been tried in military court and
sentenced to death. He was to be shot at the “ringing of the curfew bell.”
His fiancée climbed up into the bell tower. Several hours before curfew
time and tied herself to bell's huge clapper. At curfew time, when only
muted sounds came out of the bell tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the
bell was not ringing. His soldiers went to investigate and found the young
woman cut and bleeding from being knocked back and forth against the great
bell. They brought her down, and, the story goes, Cromwell was so
impressed with her willingness to suffer in this way on behalf of someone
she loved that he dismissed the soldier saying, “Curfew shall not ring tonight.”
That must be love, I thought! That was the kind of commitment I needed to
make! I wanted to give my all. To tie myself to the bell for her. To die,
if necessary, for her. To sacrifice myself on the altar of true love! I
wanted her to know that I'd give it all up for her.
But she never wanted me to die for her. Never! Clean the toilets, maybe,
but never die. My commitment was to be shown in household chores! (I read
that an exhaustive study showed that no woman ever shot her husband while
he was doing dishes. What a relief. Washing dishes may lack inspiration,
but it says “I love you” better than roses...)
I was never called upon to tie myself to the bell. But I was still called
upon to show my love - in little ways, mostly.
I was needed to comfort her before we were married when the doctor told
her she could never have children; to hold her hand and tell her I wanted
her more than I wanted a family.
I was called upon to sit by her hospital bed after surgery and encourage her.
I was called upon to hold her after her father died and let her cry.
I was also called upon to carve out alone time with her as often as
possible and to make sure my plans included her as well as me.
I was never needed to prove my undying love through a glorious act of
self-sacrifice. It was something I was required to do in little ways,
through one small act of kindness at a time.
And that, I've learned, is love.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth
himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man
he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed.”
Galatians 6:7-10 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the
Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of
the household of faith.”
Philippians 2:2-3 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the
same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through
strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better
than themselves.”
Colossians 3:23-25 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong
shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of
persons.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: A BETTER WAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony22.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
