Love Flows

Me and my Clara & Vince

In my mind, I'm thinking about "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. "(Romans 13:9) This precept covers many commandments. I've always said it's easy to love those neighbors with which you have commonalities, but what about those who "grind your gears?"

Well, when those people lash out at you or send you passive aggressive messages or talk about you behind your back how do you respond? Sal the Young Ambulatory Gal probably acted totally different that Sal the Old ALS Gal. Young Sal probably played the passive aggressive psychological warfare right back without batting an eye. She also snapped a lot quicker than she would now. Even before I became Sal the Handicapped Gal my heart began to change.

I remember after being hurt by co-workers, family, friends, or parents, I would retreat to my classroom turn out the lights and weep. Within my weeping time, I would pray for my heart and those who had hurt me. You know what, God dried my tears and helped me to smile and forgive never looking back or reacting negatively to those who hurt me. During one of my dark classroom, weeping moments God sent one of my dearest teaching friends to console me. I still go back to this even today when I feel hurt by someone. She said, "Sal feel honored. If you weren't acting selflessly, then you wouldn't be doing the right thing. Look at how they treated Jesus. You are blessed with being genuine and acting with your heart."

The times of scrutiny and backlash haven't ceased just because I've retired from the public sector of teaching. I've become really good at praying before reacting to hurtful "neighbors." You see when your heart is in the right place it makes me think of "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) It's ever so hard to love in the face of sordidness, pettiness, ignobleness, or haughtiness. People can really be the worst. That's what prompted me to write today. I want us to think about how others have shown us love.

Love abounds in my life. Here are some recent examples. My family keeps me clean and scrubbed. Most people trapped in a wheelchair don't get the luxury of a bath and consistently being changed. Yes back row, I meant changing my dipe. Yesterday, I was whisked away by a sweet friend to a painting class with a long time friend. We then bought items for Operation Shoebox to use at my Youth Group. My son who had worked all day took me to Bible study and loaded and unloaded my van. My mother-in-law joined in helping as well. This is just one day in the life of Sal the Loved Gal. God sends people to help me live life to the fullest.

Okay here's where as a teacher I want you to figure out how can all of this love continually surround me? Think and as a good teacher always should, I'll give you adequate thinking time. Hear that Jeopardy music in your head? Need a hint? Examine the title of this blog post: Love Flows. Want to love and feel loved? It's vital that YOU make the initial love offering even to those who hurt you. Forgive them. Especially to the ones who continually lash out or respond with hate. Make no room for revenge or mean reactions in your heart. Catch those moments and whisper a prayer of patience and help for you and the neighbor. I promise if you do, the dam you have built within your heart will begin to crumble. Love will soon be overflowing in your lives. Today try to react with love. Let your Love Flow!

Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Love your Neighbor Gal

Quotes of the Day:

"Just let your love flow
Like a mountain stream
And let your love grow
With the smallest of dreams"
The Bellamy Brothers

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
Mahatma Gandhi

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."
Martin Luther King, Jr.