Greater love

-
In this month's newsletter at Daniel's school, they published an article about the "social climate" in their school. As part of assessing the social climate, they ask students to answer questions like, "Do you think your teacher or xyz likes you?". 

The article stated how the percentage of students answering "yes" to this question had dropped significantly from last year and they were working on improving it. This just goes to show that as human beings, we care so much about being liked and loved.

How is the teacher going to show that they like the kid, if they feel as if the kid doesn't like them? Yet, it seemed as if the teachers were expected to do that, regardless of how they are treated.

We will always find individuals whom we like, maybe because we get along with them or have common interests or something of that sort. 

I like my kids, my husband, my family. In fact, I love them! I also like many other people, because of varied reasons. But, outside of that, my liking and loving is very limited. 

I've heard that if you love people, you should pray for them. I would say that the converse of that is true for me. I do not have love in my heart for most people unless I pray for them. Heartfelt, fervent, constant prayers.

I think that kind of prayer has the capacity to change your mind about a person. To see that individual the way God sees them. It's like having supernatural affection for them. 

I've seen that happen in my life, and sometimes, I'm surprised as to why I like the person when I hardly even know them. And, it's always because I have felt compelled by something beyond my understanding, to pray for them. I also feel blessed to have people who remember us in their prayers. This is great kind of love to pray for someone, especially when the person is not even aware of it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Generosity

-
Ever met a stingy person? Not in terms of gift giving or spending, but people who are stingy with affection, or stingy with acknowledging the good in someone else? Chances are, we don't like such a person. Chances are, we are that person (Maybe, not to everyone but to someone). I have been thinking about how one of my main triggers for the past year has been ingratitude. Like when you do things for someone, but they either blow it off or don't value it. When they find things to complain about and never have a good word to say.  When we are around generous people, it lifts us up. They raise us to be better versions of ourselves. I recently read a quote which stuck with me, "If you don't like what you are reaping, consider what you are sowing" . If we don't invest in something, whether a person, a task or a relationship, it dies a natural death. That is just the way it is. Generous people don't rely on the reciprocity of their actions to be generous. In most...
Read more

The paradox of Forgiveness

-
  “We see life as unfair and ourselves as its victims. We focus on the offenses others have done against us. And we fail to realize all these offenses pale in comparison to our own offenses against God, who not only forgives us, but both requires and enables us to forgive others and move forward free from the past. We should forgive as God forgave us, not once but many times.” This is the heart of God's forgiveness message. I wonder sometimes, what this means for victims. For people who are at the receiving end of others' sins. People dealing with years of trauma, abuse, neglect or betrayal. We all sin and fall short in many different ways, but forgiveness is more complex than that. The offenses that are done against us are wrong, simply because they are like our own offenses — wrong because they are done against God. To imply that our pain is not real or valid because we ourselves have done wrong, would be to negate the entire human race and the wrongs we inflict on each other...
Read more

Baby soft skin

-
Lately, I have been thinking that people have been in our lives for a reason , season or a lifetime . Typically, most folks fall in the first two categories. The " lifetime " people are maybe family and a few people here and there.  When Dev taught Sunday school, many of those kids were a huge part of our lives. Dev was heavily invested in them and cared for them, way more than a typical teacher. Gradually, he drifted away from what he used to do and these kids grew up and became adults and moved on with their lives.  Someone once told us that when you invest in these Sunday School kids, they will grow up and be there for your kids. I think this is mostly untrue. These young adults barely even know that my kids exist, let alone being involved in their lives.  Also, this is an unfair burden and expectation to place on them. Firstly, they are trying to figure out their own lives. They don't really have the headspace or inclination to be involved in someone else's kids...
Read more