Each year both as a family on our website, we attempt to focus more fully on the “reason for the season.” Our hope is along with the merriment found in the traditional Christmas hustle and bustle, that we focus on and feel the peace, love, and joy of the Savior.
In my daily devotional book, 40 Days with the Savior, I share thoughts from the New Testament on character traits of Jesus Christ, and how they inspire me as a woman, wife, and mother. This year, I’m adding on new ones just for you.
Hopefully, you can enjoy them and even think on or share with us a few of your own.
Merry Christmas!
Connie
Day 41: He Loved Wisely
Whether it was the woman at the well or the woman at his feet, Jesus responded with wise and perfect love—perfect for that person in their situation. As I read the New Testament, I’m amazed how often He said just the right thing or posed just the ideal question.
In our lives, loving wisely is vital. Some people need a tough sort of love, others need a sensitive, carefully worded kind. And often it can be the same person who needs to be loved differently, depending on the moment.
A one-size love does not fit all.
I’ve found this to be especially true in parenting. One child needs more tenderness, another more parameters, and still another more silent listening. But following His example helps us to better know when to speak firmly and when to hold gently.
On Sunday, we had just this experience. In the middle of the church service two of my children were apparently fighting over something highly essential—a stick of gum. It was simply another bickering point in what had been a small string of such. But this time it culminated in one of them scooting down and sitting far away, an angry scowl on her face.
I said a little prayer to know what to do—ignore it, give them a warning face (translation: there will be NO dessert and only bedtime if you do NOT knock it off right now), or deal with it specifically. Seeing as we were in church, to learn more about how to be like Christ, I felt to go with the latter.
Quietly, I stood and walked to her, smiled and whispered in her hear to come with me now. To her credit, she came. First, I validated how she might feel and apologized for a short remark I had made to her earlier in the morning, which likely had been in one of the string of This-really-bugged-me issues. She said, No, that wasn’t such a problem. I asked her what it might be. She shared very openly her concerns. I validated the likeliness of them—that yes, indeed, she did have sisters who could be bossy at times, and it would be helpful for her to let them know that in a kind but firm way. We talked about possible ways to handle it from here, and she even threw in that she had had a bratty attitude and could change that.
Who said miracles are a thing of the past?
After several minutes of sitting closely and talking in this way, she was ready to go back into the chapel. When we entered, the next miracle occurred—without any nudging, she apologized to her sister, and the sister apologized back. We all cuddled in closer, my arms around them, and it was seriously a picture postcard moment.
I won’t mention that about two hours later we had a repeat performance of the initial issues and this time my patience was not a fluffy…
However, the point I make here is that that moment, that teaching moment (for the mom), reminded me how powerful loving wisely—for the person and the moment—can be. And that reminder has kept me responding in a better and higher way.
At least for the 24 hours.
***
CHRISTmas Question: What is one way I can love someone more wisely today?
Best,
Connie
