After being an observer of so much death, sickness, sorrow, and negativity, I have truly been convicted to spread as much love as I possibly can for the rest of the days God gives me in this earthly home. We are not given one more second, minute, hour, or day to influence, impact, or make a difference than God has already planned for our lives here on earth! As I contemplate the events that have happened in my time here, I realize that I could have and should have shared more wisely! I know I got caught up in the whirlwind of seeking things instead of seeking to spread the Love of Jesus as God intended me to do when He created me.

At one point in life, I prayed for patience, and God’s sense of humor really “kicked in!” From giving me two precious sons eighteen months apart to allowing me to teach awesome teenagers with raging hormones for thirty years, I saw His sense of humor and my need to practice patience. However, the patience required then was nothing like the patience required as I grow older and encounter the problems of aging, health problems, and the negativity we face in our society today!

I am extremely saddened to see so-called Christian individuals so hate filled and negative that our great country is being divided and destroyed from the inside on a daily basis! I cringe to thing that my Savior and His Heavenly Father watches as we go against the very intention God had for creating us. He created us in His Image, but I find it difficult to believe that He sees Himself in us right now! With the time we have left, I believe we should be searching for cures to diseases, finding solutions to societal problems, and, yes, even loving and helping one another as God intended for us to do. After all, His Word to us is:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jer.29.11.niv

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.13.34.niv

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/gal.5.14.niv

““But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/luk.6.27.niv

The Word of God tells us over and over to love one another!

Yet, we see ourselves in every comment, injustice, and mistake we read, witness, or hear! I believe we are just a “wee” bit self and ego centered. Do we really feel it necessary to comment negatively about everything we disagree with just so our opinion is heard or read – especially when we end up alienating people we love and call/called friends? What happened to love our neighbor as ourself?

My mother and daddy always told me, “If you cannot say something good or helpful, don’t say anything!” Maybe that is “old school” or “antiquated”, but it still has a lot of truth in it; I might add, “If it doesn’t lead to a change that will prove beneficial.” When I started this blog, I had intended to talk about staying close to relatives and friends. I think in some ways I may have strayed; however, negativity does separate friends and family members, too!

Until next time,

Hester Peavey Guest