Love by Jim Penner

Estoy a pocas horas de mi viaje a varios poblados de Lima y otros fuera de Lima para ir a cumplir con lo que siento que es el proyecto del resto de mi vida, es el despegue, el programa piloto, las mil canastas que tenemos que preparar, todos estamos ansiosos, nerviosos porque hemos tenido tantos percances y han habido tantas trabas y piedras en el camino. Y entonces una gran amiga me envia este mensaje que me deja pensando en la importancia de saber amar y perdonar. Los que no hablan Ingles pueden usar el traductor.


Love Never Fails

December 12, 2010

By Jim Penner


"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." -1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I'm standing at the checkout counter of my local hardware store with a box of screws and a light switch, when I'm immediately drawn into hearing a conversation between a customer and the cashier across the aisle. The customer's face is red and the vein on his forehead is protruding significantly. Without him saying a word, everyone in the store knew he was angry. Then he opened his mouth again and removed all doubt. At issue was a coupon worth only a few dollars. I'm not sure what prompted him to become so upset - perhaps the coupon was expired, or only good at another store, but for whatever reason, this dear man had simply lost it.

At that moment, I was really in no position to pass judgment on this man or his actions. In times past, I've felt my share of frustration over a phone bill or a seeming inequity over a rate hike in my car insurance. Actually, in that moment I wanted to freeze time on everyone else in the store, then to hand the angered man a mirror and walk away. For one brief moment, without anyone else watching I wanted him to see how much pain and frustration that I saw in his eyes. I'm convinced he would not have liked what he saw. I know when I'm upset, thinking back on it I never like what I perceive my actions to have been.

Yes, we've all lost it from time to time, and most of the time, feel embarrassed about it a few hours later. That's why I love the words from First Corinthians in today's verse. To love our fellow humans means loving each other at our worst. To love others when they make mistakes, and to let them not endure our wrath because of something they've done to us. Love means that in each and every difficult situation, we should follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who said from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Christ asks us to love, anyway. So the next time you feel wronged, just remember three words. These three words are all you need to get you past what will certainly be your fleeting and momentary frustration: "Love never fails."

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that love never fails. Lord, I freely admit that I become frustrated with my fellow man. At times, I feel wronged, betrayed, and hurt. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me a heart of peace and love. If I will only let Your light shine through me, my moments of anger can instead become something beautiful and wonderful. They will be a chance to love - anyway. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Have you ever been so angry that you "lost it"? If you asked for forgiveness, how was it received? Have you changed your way of dealing with anger over time or are you still struggling?

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