If any of you reading this are married, or been in a serious relationship for any amount of time, then you’ve probably realized that your person does things that gets all over your nerves! My marriage is no different! I can’t say I have a ton to complain about, Steve is a really good catch, but there is this one thing though that just really chaps my hide.

Anyone who knows Steve knows he’s a big eater. Ol’ boy can put away some food! When we go out to eat, he eats his food and the rest of mine. Last night was no exception. We went to one of the local restaurants, Main Street Cafe. If you live here in Springville AL, and have not eaten there, you should really check them out! Steve got seafood lasagna and I got traditional lasagna with Cajun seasoning. Delish!! Steve cleaned his plate; and by “cleaned”, I mean he took a piece of bread and literally wiped it clean! It looked like our dog, Maudie, had licked it clean! When he moved his plate to the side I sat mine in front of him. He then removed my fork from the plate, got his fork and proceeded to eat.

Me: Why didn’t you just use my fork? Him: I have my own fork. Me: Yeah, but my fork was sitting on the plate I handed you. Him: Why would I use your fork when I have one? Me: But you had to move mine, and reach and get yours! You act like I have cooties or something! You’ll run your tongue in my mouth, but you won’t eat off my fork? What’s up with that?!? Him: I’m OCD until it benefits me.

Y’all, I cracked up! There couldn’t have been a more truer statement! Rest assured, he ain’t going to waste his time kissing me if he doesn’t think it’s leading to something else! And that’s only one example! There are tons of things we do, that we only do when it’s convenient, or when we have something to gain. Let’s be real here. We love people [mostly] because we know they’ll love us back. As Christians, we’re supposed to love our enemies and love like Jesus, and we say we do! But do we really? If we’re honest, do we really love those people who aren’t so easy to love? I’m strictly speaking of friendships here, because these are the relationships we choose!

If you know me at all, you know that I love my friends! If I’m friends with someone, I’m all in! That is, until it becomes one sided! If I’m the only one making an effort I’m like, forget this! I’m too old to put effort into someone who doesn’t value me the way I do them! This got me thinking, is it really love if we can walk away from people so easily? Are we required to just keep taking a persons crap? What does it really mean to love like Jesus? Would we even kiss someone, so to speak, if it didn’t benefit us?

I’ve always believed that until you experience the love of Christ, it’s impossible to really love others! I’ve experienced that love, and I still struggle! Is it just me?!? Are we, as human beings, truly capable of unconditional love? Give me some input here!!!!

Luke 6:32-34 The Message (MSG) “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.”