The Need for Love
— Posted by John (November 27, 2006 at 4:59 pm)
This new blogger, who goes by the name Catholic Convert, has an insightful post titled “Pro-Life Reformation: Abortion” at her blog Listen With The Ear of Your Heart.
She writes:
One of the most vital steps every pro-lifer must take is to really evaluate his own heart and to make sure, be absolutely positive, that every single action he takes is filled with a loving and caring heart. The issue of arrogant, haughty, and hateful pro-lifers is the biggest stumbling block that we face. Not only does the bad attitude of these “bad apples” drive away the very mothers-to-be that we are trying to reach out to, but it also gives fuel to the pro-choice cause. It has always been known that the ignorant and anomosity-filled voices will be sure to scream and shout and stomp their feet in order to draw attention to themselves. However, God also promises us that love endures and prevails. That is why every single person who is not hateful, who cares about both the unborn and the born, must make every effort to show unconditional love to those who agree with us–and those who don’t.
Women who are considering abortion, who don’t already have their minds made up, are not going to want to approach someone who yells at them and judges them. They aren’t going to go to someone who stands outside an abortion clinic with signs that say “MURDERER” in big bold red letters. These women are looking for people to talk to, people who will help them, who will hold them while they cry. They are looking for people who will be a friend to them, a counselor to them, someone who won’t judge them and will love them just as they are.
One of the most important chapters in Joe Scheidler‘s book CLOSED: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion is titled, “Whatever You Do, Do It With Love.”
Catholic Convert agrees. Read the whole thing.
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Joe says:
“The issue of arrogant, haughty, and hateful pro-lifers is the biggest stumbling block that we face.”
I think the biggest stumbling block is how it is easier for us to discredit our brothers-in-arms than it is to discredit our adversaries.
Comment posted November 27th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
mary kay says:
Now Joe,
If you think about it, you just did the same thing. You’re knocking CC because she knocked beligerent pro- lifers…
It is rare but not unheard of for prolifers to yell disparaging remarks at girls going into clinics. We are, after all, only human. And they DO know how to push our buttons. But I have to agree that if we don’t do this out of love, but only out of self righteousness, we are missing the bigger picture.
We ourselves show a large picture of an aborted baby at the clinic where we counsel. But this is because we can’t get to the women themselves. This way we let the picture do the talking, and all of the people on River Rd also get educated. And look at the face the truth tour. Sometimes harsher measures ARE called for. But always, always, they must be done motivated by love.
I think starting out with gentler methods, and only going to more extreme ones if you HAVE to is the way to go. But even then, you must ALWAYS leave the door open. If we don’t get them today, they need a way in tomorrow. Creating hatred or anger only insures that you will lose them for good.
Just look at the way the media gloms onto the few who have killed an abortionist. It does our cause more harm than good, and we get associated with them. Then we lose credibility and it makes our job harder.
You’re right Joe. We need to back each other up. We need to stand united. But if one of us is behaving inappropriately, then we need to speak up.
But the same rules apply here. We must correct our fellow pro-lifers out of love. Gently, and always remembering that they too have a breaking point, and it is hard not to blow a gasket when dealing with an issure where babies are being slaughtered. We ARE on the same team. GO, GO, GO…
MK
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 6:35 am
mary kay says:
Speaking of the need for love…
EVERYONE PLEASE REMEMBER THE POPE IN YOUR PRAYERS TODAY!
mk
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 6:44 am
Miki Tracy says:
I take serious issue not just with Miss “Convert’s” above-mentioned post, but most everything she said–on both her blog and mine–with regard to Pro-Life issues and politics. “Enlightened” she is not–ignorant of the facts and judgmental of what she does not understand she is. And I wrote my refutation yesterday, the 27th, at:
http://angrynunnohabit.blogspot.com/
In fact, I found some of her comments so disturbing that this morning I uploaded all of my Pro-Life links to the sidebar so that those who are in need of informing themselves have an easy way to go about it.
And yes, I know I was hard on her–after the untruths she spewed, she deserved it. Love is not always fluffy and sweet.
In His Grace, miki
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 8:44 am
Pansy Moss says:
“The issue of arrogant, haughty, and hateful pro-lifers is the biggest stumbling block that we face.”
I think the biggest stumbling block is how it is easier for us to discredit our brothers-in-arms than it is to discredit our adversaries.
I have to agree. I am getting sooo tired of this whole “the media paints pro-lifers as shrews, so instead of saying that is simply a stereotype, I am going to agree with that stereotype and say all the other pro-lifers are like that, just not me. I’m an enlightened pro-lifer…” crap.
Mary Kay,
You said:
If you think about it, you just did the same thing. You’re knocking CC because she knocked beligerent pro- lifers…
But then you go on to say:
It is rare but not unheard of for prolifers to yell disparaging remarks at girls going into clinics. (emphasis added)
In other words, it’s a stereotype, is it not?
IRL, I know many wonderful people, who are pro-life, who have strong pro-life views and are absolutely nothing like the above describes.
I also know some self-described pro-lifers who are not very nice people. I don’t spend anytime with those people because I don’t like them. Simply being anti-abortion is not a free pass for being called a great person. I suppose I could use these people as an example of the above essay. But to me that is like saying “some black people are stupid, so here’s a message to all black people I know, please make an effort not to be stupid” (Or you can take out “black” and substitute an sub-group you can think of: white, Jewish, Democrat, Science Fiction fan, Catholic…). I find that kind of insulting.
The message that pro-life action must be an actionm of love is like “well duh”. Again, people I know who spend hours doing things like volunteering for Birthright, or smaller church drives, or the Sisters of Charity, is that not out of love?
Lastly, God knew what he was doing when He gave all of us such diverse personalities. Some people are very genteel in their approach, and there are people who respond to that.
Some people are more straightforward and will not “get it” unless they hear the total and very ugly truth of a situation, and it is for them that more straightforward people (who seem mean and cruel to others who are not) are capable of describing things. Some girls need to hear the words “if you get an abortion, you are killing your baby”, while other women will be scarred and put off by that.
Some people have senses of humor or are sarcastic, and people who lack the same personality traits think they are terrible people because they take them seriously. But other people who are sarcastic get it. If someone else’s approach does not match yours, that does not mean it is “the wrong one”. Just to add, I am not saying that it is OK to use offensive language, or manipulative rhetoric. What I am saying is you cannot simply base someone as being the “wrong kind of pro-lifer” based on different personality types.
I have been told by soooo many people that I am not truly pro-life because:
“real pro-lifers get arrested. People like Birthright are fence sitters because they don’t go out and protest…”
“true pro-lifers would never vote for George Bush because of his stance on the war…”
“pro-lifers are vegetarians”
If I wanted to concentrate on it, I could think of more.
Back to the very first line quoted, the biggest stumbling block pro-lifers face is that murdering babies is legal in this country.
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 10:39 am
mary kay says:
Hey Miki,
Why don’t you tell us how you really feel?
Everyone has a right to approach this mission in the way they are called.
Just like the saints were as different from each other as night and day, so pro-life advocates work in under many different guises.
Perhaps CC is following in St. Theresa’s footsteps. Gentler, kinder, softer. Perhaps you prefer John the Baptist…in your face and out there. Both styles are valid. Both styles save babies. But we mustn’t attack each other. If CC is new to this then perhaps playing big sister and respectfully pointing out her errors would get you farther. Berating her is unbecoming. Surely you agree that the souls of these mothers are important also? Surely you realize the kind of grip EVIL has on these women and the importance of trying to deliver them also. Saving a baby, but ignoring the mother will not lead to an end to abortion. It might lead to the end of a particular abortion but unless you address the mother’s inner demons, she will return to her previous lifestyle, most likely ending in the same scenario.
There is a time and a place for these pictures. As I have said, I use them too. There is a time and a place for anger. At the politicians and the abortionists. But there is also a time for peace, forgiveness, compassion and understanding.
Hating abortion, hating homosexual behavior, hating pre-marital sex…okay. This is good. But hating the persons themselves is not good. You run the risk of crossing over into sinful behavior yourself.
No, you are right, love is not always fluffy and sweet. But…
1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues 2 but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 2
And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4
3 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, 5
it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, 6
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7
1 corninthians 1-7
MK
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 10:48 am
mary kay says:
Pansy,
I said rare because I rarely see pro-lifers behaving badly. But I HAVE seen them. The only reason I agree that they should not is because unfortunately it gives us all a bad name. Your being “black and acting bad” example doesn’t work because you don’t choose to be black. You choose to be pro-life and just like choosing to be Catholic you are responsible for projecting a certain image. I am not opposed to strong tactics. I agree they are needed. I too have spent hours looking at these babies just to remind myself of why I am out there. And I show them to every one of my childrens friends.
I’m just saying that we can’t forget the mothers. Just like you don’t like all pro-lifers being lumped into one stereo-type, I am uncomfortable lumping all women who are going in for abortions into one stereotype.
I don’t really think that we are disagreeing. We both agree that every ones style is different and short of blowing up clinics they should all be respected.
The police were out again last week. The two girls I work with keep trying to convince me that the whole police force is out to get us. I keep telling her that I won’t accept that because to do so would be to give creedence to the argument that all pro-lifers are extremist nutballs. I take each cop individually and I demand that they do the same with us.
MK
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 11:01 am
mary kay says:
“Back to the very first line quoted, the biggest stumbling block pro-lifers face is that murdering babies is legal in this country. ”
THIS I COULD NOT AGREE WITH MORE…
When I was reading CC’s post I didn’t take it the way you and Joe and Mike did. I heard her saying that we needed to remember that these women are in pain.
On rereading it I can see where you guys got defensive. It IS RARE, so rare it’s almost not worth mentioning, for a prolifer to be: “arrogant, haughty, and hateful”.
I don’t see myself as an “enlightened” pro lifer and view the rest of pro-lifers as somehow misguided. If I sounded like that I am sorry. I think simply being pro-life means we are ALL enlightened. If you could have seen me Saturday…it took every ounce of self control that I had not to bop those deathscorts in the face…I was shaking I was so angry. They are like little kids, every week with the “they’re stepping on the cement…call the cops”, “They’re standing in the street…call the cops”, “They’re video taping us…call the cops”. It’s nuts! So, you see, I am quite capable of getting angry, and wanting to strike out. It’s just that anger won’t change their minds, or save babies. At least not overt anger.
I read in a book once that spanking your children was not a bad thing. As long as you didn’t spank them in anger as a reaction.
As long as you remained in control. That’s all I’m saying…I think.
MK
MK
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Pansy Moss says:
I don’t see myself as an “enlightened” pro lifer and view the rest of pro-lifers as somehow misguided. If I sounded like that I am sorry.
Actually, Mary Kay, it wasn’t you I was thinking of at all. I quoted you as an example to prove my point that many of us in the movement are well, like us!
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Rosie says:
“and short of blowing up clinics they should all be respected”.
That’s the thing though, even the people that blow up clinics are pro-life and shouldn’t be put into the “our enemy” box. The problem is that i’ve heard people speak worse about them than about abortionists so they don’t get put into the same “box”. A big difference I see though is that most of those who blow up abortion clinics aren’t trying to kill anyone, they just want the place gone. Who knows why they do it, maybe they sidewalk counsel and don’t feel they are helping. I don’t see that they are stupid, I see that they are tired and perhaps despairing. I don’t think that people clump pro-lifers into the same category because that is what they really think, I see it as a manipulation tactic. Are all pro-aborts going to try and run me over with their car? No, of course not, that is just common sense.
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Pansy Moss says:
Mary Kay,
Hating abortion, hating homosexual behavior, hating pre-marital sex…okay. This is good. But hating the persons themselves is not good. You run the risk of crossing over into sinful behavior yourself.
I don’t know anyone who feels this way IRL. I know we have been accused of it countless times by pro-choicers, and now by some other pro-lifers. But like I said I have never seen this IRL. Actually, that is not true, I have seen it, but enough to say “see how pro-lifers are!”
As a matter of fact, the pro-life people I know, like my father would give me an earful if I ever made some kind of disparaging remark about a person rather than their actions. He would stop dead in his tracks and tell me that I can never judge the state of someone’s soul.
On the contrary, people who I feel I have been graced to be part of their lives, people who put me in awe that I might be looking at a living saint have all been unanimously pro-life. Without naming some of the people and parish priests that fit this description that you would not know, let’s look at the people we have been priviledged to have in our lifetime: John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Fr. Frank Pavone…
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
mary kay says:
Pansy,
I knew we were agreeing more than disagreeing. I think we both just focused on different things in the post.
Whew! You and I agree so often, I got a little nervouse there.
And I’m very glad to work in the same company for the same “BOSS” as you do.
MK
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Sunnyday says:
All I know is that a gentle but firm manner and a clear explanation is the thing that makes me listen most. Seeing the inner joy in the person also helps. Constant sarcasm puts me off; bad-mouthing and ill manners turn me away. I believe it does depend on the personality. Different approaches work for different people, but then I agree that at no time is using offensive language justified or even reflective of the authentic pro-life message.
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Sunnyday says:
I tried going to the “Listen with the ear of your heart” blog but clicking on the link on the blog roll won’t work.
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Joe says:
Mary Kay said, “If you think about it, you just did the same thing.”
No I did not. What I did was defend a fellow pro-lifer. But I like where you are going with it. By that logic technically John was doing the same thing by posting the “hateful” post and then did one better by giving it the title “The Need for Love”. What a scream.
I may not think the tactic of holding up a big red sign that reads MURDERER, is a very good one for myself, but I sure as heck know that it does not make that person “hateful”.
When I see these types of posts it is very clear that our enemies are making the rules we fight these battles under. I mean give me a break, “hate” and hateful” is our enemies way of describing us. Our so-called “friends” are only too happy to join them and blow a few of our allies right off their feet. And when their finished they get to tell the rest of us how we are to behave.
Also.. I notice CC has closed down her blog to “invited readers only”… This was a very good idea.
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 10:19 pm
Miki Tracy says:
Joe, I asked “CC” to make her blog private.
I told her earlier today that if she didn’t want “strangers” to point out when she is in error, or to critique her when she speaks out of turn or with inflammatory accusation that she needs not air her thoughts in public–even though she brought it on herself by spamming me and leaving a link to her site.
I, too, am very happy to see that she took this counsel (the only and only she gave any heed to)–there’s a lot that she needs to work on and fix in her own life before she runs off to save the world from itself.
And, Mary Kay,
I wrote my posts because of flaming posts that CC was leaving in the comments section of my blog. She started out with ad hominem, name-calling and judgment, so I was very surpised when I read all of the posts at her site only to discover that her mindset is a bit askew in the expectation that others *not* act as she does. I was not rude towards her, only stern and uncomprising.
It’s because of naive statements like those which Zoe has made that so many people are turned off by the Pro-Life movement before they ever have the opportunity to learn the truth–and that’s not something I’m willing to just stand by and idly watch from the sidelines.
In His Grace, miki
Comment posted November 28th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Young Christian Woman says:
You know, we don’t always have to talk so pretty.
Sometimes I do hate women who kill their own children. Certainly not hating the people who perform abortions is an uphill battle, and I look forward to the day they will stand trial and face the death penalty for crimes against humanity. Otherwise, I think that most will continue in their livelihood even once it is illegal.
Either everyone else is a total saint or most people feel that way sometime.
I can understand those who blow up abortion clinics and kill abortionists. I’ve said this in RL and it has gotten me into trouble. Dietrich Bonhoffer joined a plot to kill Hitler. Phinehas killed a sinner who was unleashing the wrath of God on the Israelites in the Bible. Our society has made a reasoned decision to put to death those who rape and kill children. The death penalty should be rare, but everyone who thinks it should exist thinks it should apply to those who repeatedly and remorselessly kill children and would continue to do so if released. The problem is not that our society doesn’t condemn the action; it is that our society does not call the children children.
Just for a moment, pretend it were your child that were in danger. How much further would you go?
I don’t intend to do these things myself, and I can see how they can be counterproductive to the cause. But if they were taking five-year-olds from our homes and tearing them to pieces, it would be a war. There would be militias. There would be guns. And some of them would be the parents of four-year-olds or six-year-olds.
If someone tried to kill your child, would you hold a sign? Yell at them? Stand in their way?
What if those who kill abortionists aren’t less compassionate, but have more love for the children?
Here’s another thought: where do you think these children would go if they were not aborted? Whose children would they be? Their mothers’? Not always. Maybe not even usually.
They would be my children and your children. They would be adopted.
Ninety percent of those children would have become babies (the rest would have been miscarried–so aborting them is no more criminal than, say, killing a terminally ill person). Almost all of those would have been five year olds. And many of those would have come to know God. Many would have ended up with Christian families (some might even have started out in them). If abortion ended today, then in about five and a half years there would be more than a million five year olds who wouldn’t have otherwise lived that long. So just imagine that one of them is yours, and maybe you will understand why some of those who go to extremes do so.
Comment posted November 29th, 2006 at 7:57 am
lauren says:
“What if those who kill abortionists aren’t less compassionate, but have more love for the children?”
Wow.
Comment posted November 29th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Rosie says:
That is a good point though. Most pro-aborts only focus on the woman and couldn’t care less about the beby being killed. What would happen if both sides were only focused on one of the people and not the other?
Comment posted November 29th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Pansy Moss says:
You know, we don’t always have to talk so pretty.
I do wish we could speak our mind truthfully on these issues.
Sometimes I do hate women who kill their own children.
I don’t hate the women, I hate the practice. Abortion is legal, and to many scared women, this is a way out. I don’t blame them. This is the context of our culture, and people are sheep, they just follow the crowd. I do blame the doctors more because I really do believe they are accepting blood money, but I don’t think these problems can be solved with violence of any sort. The original crime is violence and selfishness.
I do know the frustration. I have nightmares often about abortion. One nightmare I had once, I went to a restaurant and everyone had a clear block of ice with a little body part stuck in it. They were all eating these blocks, and I started screaming and crying “can’t you see those are human parts?” and everyone ignored me. When I woke up I realised the blocks were the same a pathologist friend of mine described the way the “products of abortion” are disposed of in blocks of wax for her to examine. She said she was pro-choice until her first assignment where she got a little lopped off hand in wax. And the outrage is the way I feel everyday about this issue. People chopping babies up into little pieces and others talking nonsensical rhetoric about women’s rights to make it acceptable.
Comment posted November 29th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Miki Tracy says:
Young Christian Woman:
We don’t *have* to talk pretty because the truth is not pretty, but many choose to because to do otherwise is unconscionable to them.
I agree with the notion that we must speak the truth in love, but if our words do not speak the *whole* truth–the hard, uncompromising truth that will keep people from falling prey to this mess–that’s *not* really love.
Love (agape love) may be patient and kind; it may never be rude, but it also desires the best for another–and sometimes what’s best is to to convey that will for someone strip away the sugar and get down to brass tacks. Murder is murder is murder.
But about “hating” women who abort babies? Let’s talk about this.
Most of these women have been lied to until their heads are swimming, and so they are mentally, spiritually and emotionally disabled from the get-go by their perpetrators. They are desperate, frightened, angry people whose lives have been invaded by what they do not understand and what they cannot fathom–and often they truly believe they have no other way out because no one has sat down and explained the real options to them.
My own best friend, some twenty years ago, was battered and abused by her then-husband for months until she aborted a child she dearly wanted to have; she has suffered for it ever since. She had a nervous breakdown, spent years on anti-depressants, and in hospitals, and tried to suicide on countless occasions. This scenario happened with her *three* times and to this day, she spends the anniversary of each child’s death in bed (sometimes for days on end) crying for her lost babies. I could never hate her, and I know that GOD could never hate her–she already hates herself more than we will ever know, and she deserves our love, our devotion and our attention to healing the rift in her soul.
Go read the Book of Romans–especially the first three chapters. Our Father despises sin and will punish us all for it, but He is always just in His judgment. Justice *requires* mercy; devoid of that it is only vengeance. As the Apostle Paul said, “no one knows the heart of anyone but GOD who created Him.” To hate another for their sins, regardless of what they may have done, is to disobey the Father Who requires us to forgive all, that we may be forgiven.
After all, as a philosophy professor of mine once said, “…given the right circumstances, the only thing that separates us from the murderer on death row is motive and opportunity….”
We are all human, and we are all capable of black and evil acts, and that is why we must stay the course and fight the good fight for *all* our sakes, from conception to natural death….
In His Grace, miki
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 7:11 am
Young Christian Woman says:
Miki:
I am aware that some women who have abortions have been misled. I didn’t say I always hate them; I said sometimes I hate them. It is hard to always love everyone, and sometimes it seems like people only show their good sides, but I doubt any of us are perfect. And I suspect a lot more abortive women are like Lauren than are like your friend. I also just can’t put myself in a situation where I would kill my child. I know that we ought to love them; I just can’t always bring myself to do it. I’m not saying that we should hate them. I know it is a sin, but I’m not sinless, and I admit it–there is only One who is.
When I think about abortion, the women aren’t the first people I think of; the babies are. Women are not the main reason abortion should stop; babies are. Even if all women felt that abortion was the right choice, even if it had positive psychological consequences, even if it never left people infertile or dead, it would still be wrong because it is murder. And while there is certainly a place for talking about how women are hurt by abortion, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that it hurts babies a lot more.
But mostly what I wanted to say is: I’m not perfect. Yes, we should act in love. But who does that 100% of the time? And sometimes I wonder if anyone else is thinking, I’m not like these people, because I’m not perfect; sometimes I get angry, or sometimes I can’t love everyone… and I just wanted to say, I’m not perfect. I’m only human and I have flaws like everyone else.
I absolutely agree that it is important to love everyone; biological mothers, people who think it’s okay to kill babies, abortionists, other pro-lifers who use different tactics, Lauren… I’m just saying that sometimes it’s hard.
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Miki Tracy says:
YCW:
I hear you. And I sympathize with much of what you say. Here’s another approach, though:
Everyone with a mind and a heart is agreed that abortion not only kills, but that it is needlessly, devastatingly painful to the child being killed. Providentially, their pain does not last long in most cases–however, it does end, and that we must thank GOD for.
Women who procure abortions, on the other hand, feel the pain for the rest of their lives. Sometimes they stuff all that pain down and become numbed to their own emotions and the world around them. Sometimes their pain morphs into rage and they look for any rationalisation to explain away what they have done by promoting abortion “right” as good, beneficial, whatever. And then there are those women in the majority, I think, who are deeply devastated and regret the “choice” they made.
I have yet to ever counsel any in-crisis woman who actually knows the whole truth about abortion and birth control–even women who call themselves Catholic and Christian. When it comes down to brass tacks, these women *are* misinformed and they *do* need another’s help to see the forest for the trees….
Love isn’t ever really easy–if it were the world would be a much different place–and no one is perfect, but true love gives until it hurts:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/teresa94.html/
Mother Teresa says it much better than I ever could. It *hurt* Jesus to love us! And we are called to be *Christ* to everyone we meet–even those who do despicable things in the name of personal “freedom”.
I know how you feel, and I understand, but just keep this in mind: without the *women* in crisis, there are no babies–and if you cannot love the women, then loving the unborn is fruitless because without their mothers they would never have their life to start with….and even more importantly, if you cannot love their mothers, then what does it credit you to love the unborn? After all, even those women we can save from the abortion mills need tender loving care and support to get through the hell they’re *already* living to bring forth a healthy, happy child. No mother, no baby–it’s just that simple….
In His Grace, miki
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
mary kay says:
“but true love gives until it hurts:”
A very wise person once said to me that TRUE LOVE GIVES UNTIL IT HURTS, AND THEN GIVES SOME MORE UNTIL IT STOPS….
MK
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
mary kay says:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.—Matthew v. 43-48
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Miki Tracy says:
AMEN and AMEN!!!
Comment posted November 30th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Young Christian Woman says:
Thank you, Miki.
Comment posted December 1st, 2006 at 4:51 am
Miki Tracy says:
You are so very welcome, YCW.
And thank *you* for not being afraid to speak the truth of your heart (including what’s not so pretty! ;o) ), even in the face of opposition! It’s so often difficult to summon the courage to voice those things within us which we know may not be well recieved by others–I’m very glad to know that you are willing to do so; without such candor there would be very little dialogue worth having!
May our Father bless you and keep you in all things, Love!+++
In His Grace, miki
Comment posted December 2nd, 2006 at 8:48 am
Young Christian Woman says:
Miki, thank you again, you made me smile.
God is still working on my heart sometimes; He’s better at love than I am, and I used to think I was pretty good at it.
God bless you too (and Mary Kay and Pansy and Rosie and Annie and Lauren and Sunnyday and John and Eric and Quinn and CC and George Tiller… hopefully with a change of heart on some of those).
Comment posted December 2nd, 2006 at 10:18 am
mary kay says:
YCW,
If you can bless George Tiller you’re well on your way…
good work,
MK
Comment posted December 2nd, 2006 at 12:21 pm