Making Love the Center of Christmas
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT
With 5 kids in our house, it isn’t surprising that things can sometimes get, well….a little hairy.
As much as I would like to say that my kids get along perfectly with one another all the time, it’s just not the case.
This week was no exception.
Hearing chaos erupting in the other room, I ran out of my room to find one of my sons chasing the other around the house with an airsoft gun….shooting….in the house!
Of course, the blame game began as each defended their side of what really happened. After explaining to them that shooting each other in the house was NOT an option and that they needed to get along, I hear my middle daughter crying. My youngest, Sophia, bit her on the finger…..wait…… because she stuck her finger in Sophia’s mouth.
Really? Another fire to put out!
The thought that comes to me often is, Why can’t we all just get along? Love was definitely not present in our house. The children were being rude, inconsiderate and mean to one another. If someone else were to treat their siblings the way they did, they would be the first to defend them.
Why is it that we treat the ones closest to us with contempt, yet in front of perfect strangers we are kind and friendly?
This Christmas and every other day of the year, we need love to have a Christ centered home.
[bctt tweet=”The more time we spend with Jesus, the more we become like Him.” username=”Alisa_Nicaud”]
Receiving the love of God is the key to pouring out love. We cannot give out what we don’t have. God loves perfectly, because He is love.The love we give is often conditional and imperfect. Yet when we receive His love, we are able to extend that same love to others.
This year, we are making love the center of Christmas!
Practical Tips for Showing Love:
Let’s explore how to love in each of these relationships:
Relationship with God– Many times we boast in our love for God, which is wonderful. But the true wonder is in His love for us. He loves us as we are, flaws and all. So, how do we show God our love? One way is through loving others.
Relationship with Spouse– So often we try to love our spouses the way we want to be loved. For example, I love the house clean, but I don’t enjoy cleaning it. So when I clean the house, I feel like I’m telling my husband, “Surprise, I love you.” Unfortunately, acts of service is not my husband’s love language, physical touch is. If I were to rub his head or give him a back massage, that would speak volumes of love to him! What is your spouse’s love language? You can take the test here.
Relationship with Family– In my opinion, quality time together as a family will produce an environment where God’s love can flow through us. I’ve mentioned quality one on one time with each of our children in the past. This makes our children feel loved and cared for. With 5 kids, sometimes it’s hard to hear each child’s heart over all the commotion. These dates we have arranged, help us to bond with each child and show them love.
Prayer
God we are grateful for the love that you give us every day. Help us to be loving and kind to others, especially the ones that are closest to us. Lord help us not to take them for granted, but to love them unconditionally, the way you do. Father I pray for those who have not received your love. God I pray that we would have opportunities to show them your love, that they may receive the gift of hope and salvation this Christmas. In Jesus name~ Amen.
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