Loving People - Noun & Verb

As much as I am surrounded by love, I am surrounded by much pain that I have to bear with because of the calling...

Over and over again, I am learning about the hardship of following Jesus but more so when it is to reflect Jesus as my vocation. There are so many factors and things that surface to my attention to tell me that it comes with the job to live in a certain way.

Loving people was not something that came to me naturally. I remember bitterness and resentment that lurked in my heart so very often until God had to hit me hard with shame and guilt years down the road to show me what it means to love people, even those that really hurt me.

The problem is that people are not intently hurtful but rather in a more ignorant way where they have no idea what they do actually hurt those around them. And I need to find myself being reminded by the forgiveness that was given to me for the things that I did not know I did wrong to others.

But living a life that constantly fearing my actions is rather stressful. Keeping watch of what I do and say that may very hurt people that I love is something that can be proven depressing. How does one live a life where we become more aware of our actions? How do we do so in such that we find freedom in it?

The answer somehow draws itself from knowing the heart of God. God changes things that we cannot perceive; gives us strength when we get tired; gives us patience when we are giving up; fills us with love so that we can carry on.

I am seeking strength to forgive and bear with others as I am constantly learning from my mistakes and the grace that has been given to me.