Love one another

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. John 13:34 AMP

We are away on holiday thanks to the blessing of the Camp Quality organisation and the cabin they make available to their families. We are out of our sheltered environment of school, home, church and hospital. (Although some would say the latter isn't really a 'sheltered' environment.) 

Anyway, yesterday I was reminded of how 'radically different' it is when we, through God's grace, try to live as Jesus lived on earth, with love for each other. Our children were swimming in the pool, playing with some other children who are staying in the camp ground. One of the other children made a comment to our son, something like, 'How come your sisters are so nice to you?'.

'They just are,' replies Marshall.

'Oh I know why, it's because they are scared you will beat them up if they aren't nice to you,' was the response from the other child.

This conversation has stuck in my mind. Being kind to each other, something we are reminded about so regularly, through reading God's word, teaching at church and school, appeared to be a foreign concept to these children. Especially kindness from love in sibling relationships, rather kindness resulting from fear. Unfortunately we did see the latter play out and they eventually left the pool.

Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another. Romans 12:10 AMP

Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea, our children are certainly not angels, and we have experienced some ugly sibling fights, but the underlying foundation of love and kindness is there - Praise God. And praise God these other children were able to witness a different kind of interaction between siblings. 

I believe this was a direct answer to prayer, as these holidays we have been purposefully praying each morning together asking God to help us be a blessing, either to each other, or to someone He brings across our path. At the end of the day we do a debrief to share what God has done. It has been just another small way to shift the focus from the 'get, get, get' of the commercialised Christmas season. And it has been a way to help keep God at the centre of what we are doing each day, when we are out of the normal routine of home, school and church.

Question for today, what can you do today to show God's love to someone within your family, or a friend, or a 'stranger'? How can you be a sweet fragrance in someone else's life?

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ love and gave Himself up for us, as slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. Ephesians 5:2 AMP