A friend loves at all times.
I would say that I’m a compassionate person but I’ve realised something about myself, that has come as quite a surprise.
I tend to withdraw from people when I sense that they are experiencing difficulty. As a way of protecting myself from being hurt or burdened by them or for them.
I’m only human after all. But I’m seeing the prejudice in my own heart.
We crave to only be around those that seem to have it all together ‘the young, the successful, the healthy, the beautiful, the wealthy, the influencers’ because we want to be associated with them.
We believe that in order to be great, we need to be around others who we deem as great.
But is this what Jesus teaches us about greatness?
Didn’t he say that greatness comes from serving others and whatever we do for the least of his followers, we do onto him?
Not many people will walk with you when you’re going through trials and tests- especially when you show them your weaknesses.
We all have weaknesses. Even Paul, the great apostle who wrote many of the books in the New Testament had a weakness that he described as ‘a thorn in his flesh’ that the enemy used to strike him. He even asked God to take it away 3 times but Gods reply was “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s conclusion was then to ‘boast about his weaknesses so that Christ’s Power May rest upon him.’
Weaknesses can be uncomfortable. Unlike strengths other people’s weaknesses force us to extend ourselves. They force us to put ourselves in someone else’s position. To think less of ourselves and the other person. To give and not expect anything in return. This is real Christianity.
It made me think of Jesus and how He is the God who isn’t afraid of other people’s weaknesses. He healed Leper’s, sat and ate with sinners. He associated with prostitutes, the blind, tax collectors (who the Jews disliked) as well as Samaritans (who the Jewish people did not associate with). He didn’t say this person is too sinful, too unholy, too sick or too broken for me to be around. He was the light in the darkness and so are we as children of God. Darkness cannot extinguish light.
When I’ve been going through trying times ive been fortunate to have people extend compassion towards me. Even though I’ve been so consumed by my own problems that I’m unable to extend the same sentiment back to the giver. I could only receive the Compassion and grace that I did not deserve. This is the love of God.
God wants to use our weaknesses to display his power in our lives.
I have a lot of unlearning to do if I’m to continue to walk in the truth.
We all have the common factor of being human, despite of our successes or weaknesses.
Judging people by human standards is what creates our superiority and inferiority complexes.
We secretly put others down and lift others up. Or we believe we are better than those who are not as rich, pretty or popular as us and we reject them.
Just because my friend is promiscuous doesn’t mean she’s less of a person than I am.
Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean I should distance myself from them.
Why am I so afraid of Loving the unlovely in others?
Is this because it reminds me of the unlovely in myself?
The parts of myself that I think are too unlovable, the shame I try to hide, the pain I mask, the secret thoughts that pollute my mind that others can’t hear?
God loves every single one of us. He doesn’t leave any of us out.
Isn’t that what Christianity is about. We were all the undeserving, wretched, sinful, poor, ugly people when it boils down to it.
But we are loved by a glorious, beautiful, rich, holy, majestic God who makes all things beautiful in His time.
I really pray I start seeing other people how God sees them.