Legacies of Life

     Is there someone you want to emulate? A parent, a friend, a movie star, or singer? Someone with tons of money, power or youth? What drives you each day? What are the motives of your heart? All questions worth pursuing.

     The older I get the more I want to be like my father-in-law, Bert, or my friend, Marcia. They are those that pour out love even when they are suffering, even during struggles. The husband who never complains when his wife no longer recognizes him. He just loves. The friend who cares more about you than about the pain she is in. The ones able to sacrifice their own agenda and their own selfish desires to do what Jesus asks.

     The apostle Paul went through grest suffering. You can read a list of just some of the things he went through in his life in 2 Corinthians 11. Here is what he wrote from his prison cell:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

     And he also tells us to rejoice always. Sounds impossible. But with God all things are possible. To show strength in suffering, sacrifice in struggles, wisdom in worry, love in loss. And maybe, just thinking about being kind to everyone.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:31-32

When Jesus was asked, which is the greatest commandment?

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22-38-40

     Good words to meditate on this morning. Be kind. Be compassionate. Love God. Love others. Why? Because Jesus says so.

Dear Lord,

We grumble and criticize and lash out in our human frailty. Teach us how to be kind and loving to each other. Will you show us how today?

Amen