Love At The End Of The Day
Dec. 18, 2012
There are some people whom it is not hard to love and to whom it is quite easy to be kindly affectioned. They are congenial and to our taste. We are drawn to them by their amiable qualities or charming manners; or their treatment of us is so kind and generous as to win our affection. It is easy to love such.
But there are others to whom we are not thus naturally attracted. They are not congenial—perhaps not amiable. They have unlovely or disagreeable traits. Certain faults mar the beauty of their characters, or they treat us rudely and unkindly. It is by no means easy for us to bear ourselves toward such with all of love’s patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, and helpfulness. Yet it is this that is required of those who would walk in the footsteps of the Lord. Sinners love those who love them. Sinners do good to those who do good to them. Sinners lend to those of whom they hope to receive again. But we are to do more. We are to love our enemies. We are not to select from the mass about us a few to whom the law of love is to be applied. We are to have our special friends, just as Jesus had, to whom our hearts and lives may turn for that deep companionship that all pure and true souls crave. But, like Him also, we are to love all and show to all love’s holiest offices…
There are excellent men whose goodness is rugged and cold like the bare granite rocks. It is strong, firm, true, upright, but lacks the finer graces of [Christlike] piety. It is quite possible to love and not be kindly affectioned. There are homes in which there is love that would make any sacrifice, but in which hearts are starving for kindly expression. There is a dearth of those tender words and thoughtful little acts that a true gentleness would suggest. There are fathers who love their children and would give their lives for them who are yet wanting in those kindly expressions that so endear the parental relation. There are friendships that are true enough, but which are not hallowed by those graceful attentions and those tokens of thoughtfulness that cost so little and are worth so much. There are men whose hearts are full of benevolent dispositions toward the need, and of sincere sympathy for those who suffer, in whose lives none of these benevolent thoughts or feeling of compassion take practical form. There are men with kindly nature