Love's Reward

The Wizard of Oz said to the Tin Man, ‘A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.’ 

This statement has bothered me for as long as I can remember. Maybe you’ve questioned it, too? How much we’re loved by others may have nothing to do with how much love we give. 

Celebrities are greatly loved by many; this has nothing to do with how much the celebrities love anyone. Mobs of adoring fans pack stadiums to watch athletes perform, regardless of how they treat the people around them. 

Contrary to what the Wizard of Oz said, we are called to love others, not get them to love us. 

There are people whose love for others is much greater than the love others have for them. Jesus is the #1 example. As a man He was Love Incarnate. He used the power of Love to teach, heal, forgive, and free people from emotional distress. Large crowds followed Him, but there were many who mistrusted Him. Some people were so disturbed by His Way of loving that they killed Him. He knew they were plotting to kill Him and yet He continued to love those who came to Him. His love to the point of death was rewarded with His resurrection and eternal life in heaven. 

Mother Teresa expressed love in the dignity she gave to the poorest of the poor, the sick, and the dying. She did it out of love for Christ: she loved them because she saw in each person the image of Christ. Probably few of them could love her back because they were so close to death. She undoubtedly is being rewarded now with eternal life with Christ Himself.

Jesus said, “Love one another'' not “Make sure people love you” or even “Love others so that they love you back.” 

And so, each of us is called to show the love of Christ to those around us – in our own ways, with the talents God has given us – whether or not they also love us, and especially if they don’t love us (see Luke 6:34-36)! We have the capacity for great love because Christ’s Love already dwells inside us. We claim His Love; we thank Him for loving us and we treat ourselves kindly. We look for opportunities to give this Love for the benefit of others, everywhere we go and in everything we do. We know that the more love we share, the more it grows and the stronger it becomes inside us. And we give it with joy and confidence, remembering that Christ assured us that we, too, will be rewarded for sharing His love with others, regardless of whether we’re loved in return.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” –Matthew 5:12

“Lord, let my joy come from loving You in the people around me!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

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p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

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Look for Me

 

  “Then the disciples returned home. But Mary (of Magdala) stayed outside the tomb weeping.”

 --John 20:10-11 

Mary couldn’t leave; she stayed there alone, weeping with grief. Something, or Someone, was tugging at her heart. As she wept, she peered into the tomb, searching. She saw two angels sitting where the body of Jesus had been. Then the risen Lord greeted her, allowing her to be the first person to see Him after He rose from the dead (see John 20:11-18).

Our Lord wants us to search for Him, too. Sometimes, we look outside ourselves and find Him in the people and circumstances around us. Look for Him in the new employee humbly trying to learn the ropes. Look for His smile in puppies and kittens. Draw on His patience in slow traffic. Seek His wisdom to guide you in your work. Soak in His peace when the baby’s sleeping, and lean on His calming presence when she’s crying.

Other times, we stop and let Jesus come to us. How? Give Him ten minutes of your day. Find a quiet place – a room in your home, an empty church, your back yard, or even your parked car -- and silence your phone. Start by thanking Him for this time you’ll get to spend with Him. Then, pick a short passage in the Bible and read it slowly and attentively. (The Gospels are a good place to start.) You might want to read it more than once. Notice what strikes you as you read. Next, sit still and think about what you’ve just read; the ideas that come to mind may be Him trying to tell you something. You may want to jot down your ideas. Finally, thank Him again and ask Him to stay with you and guide you as you go about the rest of your day.

Imagine Him saying to you:

“Stay and look for Me, like Mary did. Don’t be in such a hurry to get back to your routine, like the apostles did. Stop for a few moments and you’ll be rewarded. Tell Me what’s on your mind. Then, be still and wait. Sometimes you’ll get answers, and sometimes you’ll get only quiet. The quiet is holy when you spend it with Me. I’m working in your heart even when you feel nothing or get no apparent answers. I want to spend time with you. I love seeing you wanting to spend time with Me. Go deeper. Let Me reach into your heart. I want you to experience My love for you. Look for Me, and you’ll find Me. Listen, and you’ll hear Me. Open your heart to Me and let Me fill it. Be at peace. I love you.”

“Lord, let me find You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! Feel free to share it with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Thanks!

 p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

 

Where Do We Plant Ourselves?

 

 

 “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the one whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a wasteland. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree, planted beside the waters, that stretches out its roots to the stream. It fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green. In the year of drought it still bears fruit… I will reward each person according to the results of his deeds” (See Jeremiah 17:5-10).

The bush on the left is vulnerable. There’s nothing to protect it from the harsh elements of the desert. There’s no water, so it bears no fruit. It merely survives in its isolated, unchanging existence.

The tree on the right stretches its roots to the stream, which helps it grow and flourish. It’s not alone but surrounded by other fruitful plants and everything that lives in the stream. Even in times of drought, it bears fruit because of its thriving environment.

Where we plant ourselves will affect how fruitful we are. If we’re proactive in staying close to our Lord and His guidance, we’ll be fruitful in the ways God created us to be. We’ll produce good fruit if we place ourselves in environments that bring out the best in us, and surround ourselves with people who encourage us to be our most loving selves. Even when life feels difficult, we’ll still bear fruit if we resist the forces that try to pull us away from God.

Let’s take a look around and see where we’ve planted ourselves. Do I remind myself throughout the day that God is with me, and reach out to Him for affirmation and guidance? Do my work, hobbies, and how I spend my free time help me to become a more loving, generous person? Do my family, friends and I bring out the best in each other? Am I proactive in building a more peaceful world, starting with my home? Asking ourselves questions like these, especially as we approach Holy Week, will shine a light on how we might reach out to God to bear more good fruit.

 “Lord, life feels overwhelming at times. Show us how to plant ourselves closer to You. Nourish and refresh us. We trust Your promise to reward us according to our hearts and deeds.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina Bedell    Comments are always welcome! Feel free to share it with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Thanks!

 p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/... 

Checks may be made payable to Cleveland Maidan Association and mailed to

Pokrova Ukrainian Church

6812 Broadview Rd.

Parma, OH 44134