Good Day, God!
This drawing is of me – AKA Tutusaurus – visiting Ian, my first grandchild. Our delightful daughter Sandy drew it after my Inner Tutusaurus had revealed herself. As I look at the drawing, God, it seems to me as if my daughter has captured Your Love. You love us as we love our children and grandchildren. Now that I am older I realize that love is far more than Loving Looks. True love is hard work . . . caring enough to help the loved one develop personal responsibility, and habits of self care and self respect.
Ian is 25 now and still growing . . . much to my surprise I am being asked to grow too. I never believed in the 21 and DONE model of growth. But, I must say I really didn’t expect to be so challenged. Specifically, I am being challenged to Speak the Truth (as I see it) in Love. I had cleverly avoided knowing that I wasn’t putting much truth in with my love. DANG! How can I have been so blind? Willfully not noticing?
Because Speaking the Truth in Love takes COURAGE! That is why! Precious relationships are put on the line. I never thought about the negative correlation between how important someone is to me and how much truth I will tell. Well, lets face it God. The world is filled with examples of people speaking “truth” without much love — and being loving without hard truths being spoken. We don’t see/experience a lot of speaking the truth in love. We don’t have much to model on.
That may be true . . . but it is beside the point! Now that I understand my responsibility — I am being held to a higher standard. I guess that is what real love it. Helping to hold up a higher standard to a loved one . . . and harder yet, modeling that higher standard!
I hate having failed! But, the good news is that seeing my failures . . . and continuing to see them . . . motivates me to change and grow. Ah, this then is repentance! To see I have been doing it wrong. To stop. And slowly turn around. To confess. To make amends. To step up to the plate and swing. Day by day . . . moment by moment. Maybe, God, this is more about humility than courage?
