Dear Friend,
The greatest gift
that we can give
of ourselves is
the gift of love.
We will be
remembered far
longer for the
love that was
shown towards
others than any
other single thing
that exists. Our
acts of love can
be shown in many
ways such as
making special
time to be
attentive to ones
needs, giving a
gift for no
special reason,
saying I love you
and showing it to
those who are
nearest to our
hearts and simply
letting people
know that we
appreciate them
and telling them
how much they mean
to us. Love
implied isn't the
same as love
shown, so
encourage yourself
to make an extra
effort to let your
love be made known
towards everyone
whom you hold dear
to your heart.
I hope you are
encouraged and
challenged by this
message to make an
extra effort each
day to let the
love that is
within your heart
be shown where all
will be impacted
for the better.
HOW DOES YOUR
GARDEN GROW?
As a young child,
upon my bedroom
wall hung a poem
stating, "The only
way to have a
friend is to be
one." I'm certain
I must have read
that verse dozens,
if not hundreds of
times while laying
upon my bed, and
yet, it's simple
but profound
message continued
to grow in my
heart throughout
my adult life.
Whether it's
friendship,
marriage, or
another form of
loving relations,
all relationships
entail a
foundation built
on the acts of
giving and
receiving. As
flowers soak up
the rays of the
sun, and droplets
of dew, offering
to man their
fragrant and
bright blooms, so
too does every
loving
relationship
require the loving
gestures of both
individuals.
For five years,
Tom had his eye on
Sandra, a peppy
and pleasant young
lady who worked in
his office. In the
past, when Tom's
schedule wasn't as
demanding, Tom and
Sandra shared
lunches and spoke
to each other
often. Tom
promised Sandra
many a time he
would take her out
on a "proper
date," but as the
weeks, then months
began to fly by
and Tom's schedule
became more
hectic, Sandra
gave up hope. In
Sandra's mind, Tom
was disinterested,
so there was no
sense in hoping
for something that
would never
happen. A year
later, Sandra
announced to her
fellow employees
that she was
engaged to be
married! When Tom
heard the news, he
was so shocked he
turned white and
had to sit down.
"How can she do
that to me? She
should be marrying
me, not him,"
whimpered Tom as a
tear fell down his
eye.
In that same
office building,
was employed a
middle-aged woman
named Helen, who
was a divorced
mother of a
thirteen year old
boy. As Helen
sipped her coffee
at her desk, she
reflected on the
messy argument she
and her son had
just before work.
This was not their
first fight, but
the result of
years of lack of
communication and
neglect. The truth
of the matter was
that Helen's son
never knew for
certain if his
mother loved him
or not, and this
caused much
conflict in their
relationship.
The wealthy,
elderly owner of
the above
mentioned
building, Mrs.
Emily Hawkins, was
on her death bed
in the hospital.
The doctor
notified her
immediate family
and friends,
knowing they would
want to say their
final good-byes.
All of Mrs.
Hawkins children
came, shedding
heartfelt tears,
but there were no
friends to come
because the
wealthy Mrs.
Hawkins never took
the time to
nurture meaningful
friendships.
Real Life
Application:
What these three
stories have in
common is all
their outcomes
could have come
out very
differently if
only they would
have watered their
gardens more
carefully. Loving
words unspoken,
caring gestures
never
accomplished, time
never given; all
of these resulted
in seeds of
friendship and
love being choked
by bitter weeds of
neglect,
selfishness, fear,
and all things
which destroy,
rather than build
up.
How does your own
garden grow?
Is there a special
one, two or three
flowers you wish
to see blossom,
and yet it never
seems to grow?
Then ask yourself
how well you are
caring for that
tender bud. Is it
being watered with
kindness and
thoughtfulness? Is
the warmth of love
freely
administered as
does the sun offer
it's rays of
light? Are the
leaves of the
flower pruned and
nurtured
continually with
the gifts of time,
energy, and self?
As I again ponder
that verse which
sat upon my wall
for so many years
of my childhood,
it is my hope
that, for those
people who I "say"
I love, be they
spouse, children,
or friend, that I
will do my best to
let my love, not
be mere lip
service, but to
let the true
heartfelt emotions
which fill my
heart, overflow
and pour out, so
that every blossom
may be watered and
never wither. In
like manner, may
the reality of God
pour out into your
own lives, so that
your hearts can
fully comprehend
what is the
height, breath,
and width of His
love.
By Melanie Schurr
Romans 12:14-17
"Bless them which
persecute you:
bless, and curse
not. Rejoice with
them that do
rejoice, and weep
with them that
weep. Be of the
same mind one
toward another.
Mind not high
things, but
condescend to men
of low estate. Be
not wise in your
own conceits.
Recompense to no
man evil for evil.
Provide things
honest in the
sight of all men."
Hebrews 13:1-3
"Let brotherly
love continue. Be
not forgetful to
entertain
strangers: for
thereby some have
entertained angels
unawares. Remember
them that are in
bonds, as bound
with them; and
them which suffer
adversity, as
being yourselves
also in the body."
Galatians 6:1-4
"Brethren, if a
man be overtaken
in a fault, ye
which are
spiritual, restore
such an one in the
spirit of
meekness;
considering
thyself, lest thou
also be tempted.
Bear ye one
another's burdens,
and so fulfil the
law of Christ. For
if a man think
himself to be
something, when he
is nothing, he
deceiveth himself.
But let every man
prove his own
work, and then
shall he have
rejoicing in
himself alone, and
not in another."
In Christ's
Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry
http://www.Godswork.org/
