When someone does something to you that you don't like or when someone close to you stuffs up and makes things tougher for you, what is your initial reaction?

If you're like me you get frustrated, roll your eyes, maybe yell or cry and moan "it's not fair think about me!" and not want to talk to that person for a little while! Ok confess, what do you do?

As hard as it is and despite the enormity of some stuff ups, the better way to handle these times is to take a deep breath and to embrace the person, remind them that we all make mistakes and decide to love them and accept them with their failings.

I was reminded about this when I was chatting with a friend this afternoon. We were talking about how children just have a knack of forgiving and loving unconditionally.

Sometimes after I have growled at my children when they have deserved a kinder word, I am amazed that they still want to cuddle me and love me. When I stuff up, they seem to love me all the more.

I think being able to swallow our own hurts and pride and being able to embrace someone when they have messed up is what true love is all about. Of course some stuff ups are pretty monumental and take so much grace to move forward from. I always admire women who can forgive and take back their husbands who have cheated on them - I would be doing more yelling than loving I must admit.

But isn't God unconditional with His love and affection towards us? Doesn't He choose to love us when our stuff ups are monumental? Doesn't He forgive us again and again......

As hard as it is, sometimes we just need to take a breath and decide that we can love like God loves us. It may take time, but we can choose to move forward.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. "

Blessings and Love