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Learning to Love
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By: Teri Klein
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When I say the word “love,” what comes
up for you?
Did you immediately think of your best
friend, your kids, or a family member justice that drives us to want
that has a special place in your heart? things to be fair, so we believe
Or, did you think about the butterflies all unkind deeds should have
you felt in your stomach the day you met consequences. helping me step closer to who He
your husband, or how elated you were wanted me to become, but I got a
the day you married him? The thing is, when we choose better picture of how He loves
to accept Jesus’ gift of me.
When we think about the concept of salvation, it’s the first step
love, it’s easy to think about the fun kind toward shedding who we are The truth is, I’m not always easy
of love that feels good. We don’t often so we can grow to be more to love either. In fact, sometimes
think about the love that can be hard. like Him. (Eph 4:22-24) And I probably make it pretty darn
that includes how we love. tough. But no matter how
You know the kind I’m talking about, unkind, unforgiving, hard-
right? Like showing love to that one One of the hardest situations headed, or frustrating I can be,
person in your circle of friends who isn’t for me to love like Jesus was Jesus’ love for me never wavers
often nice to you. Or responding in a during, and after, my divorce — not once. He takes every
loving way when your ex-husband seems 8 years ago. You see, it came mistake, misstep, and betrayal
to go out of his way to make co- out of nowhere and it felt like and loves me anyway.
parenting more difficult than it needs to my husband had completely
be. transformed into a different And that’s how I want to be.
person overnight. He was no
As humans we have this natural longer the warm, kind man I’d
tendency to respond with like — when fallen in love with. He’d
we feel attacked, pushed down, or become cold and emotionless;
marginalized, we want to retaliate with every word he uttered cut
the same. We have a strong sense of through me like a knife.
Grace The Magazine 17
