Adjust Your Thinking

I have been wrestling with the emotion of love and what that looks like as a blended family and loving someone else's children without replacing a parent's sense of authority and importance.  I find that my only position has been for encouragement, agreement, laughter, and very often looking the other way when correction is needed.  

I was up until 2am wrestling over this love for my family and my spouse.  The Lord laid this on my heart..

Love isn't a weak emotion.  

Love isn't aloof and unconcerned

Love is fierce and wildly protective over those it loves. 

Love is the peace of mind knowing you are safe and protected.

Love is the one who will not let you go, will hold on when the road gets rocky.

Love is the one who won't let you down. 

Love honors what is sacred in each person and endeavors to keep innocence alive.

Love is not ever ashamed to proclaim from the mountains that it does love you.

Love doesn't play games and mock us with teasing and contempt - building up frustration.

Love is BOLD as a lion, and the fiercest force to be reckoned with.

Love does not become bored with you or disinterested.

Love is a very present encounter.

Love wants you to share even the messy stuff and certainly the fun stuff.

Love walks the road with you on your journey, not matter how long or how tiresome.

To have known love in your life is a very special gift and should not be easily dismissed or treated with disrespect.  

Perfect love comes from Jesus but being rooted in Jesus we can trust He will use us to love others. 

So when my children or my spouse wonder why I so fiercely and sometimes angrily defend some of the boundaries and positions we take in our home it is out of a tremendous love and protection that overwhelms my heart to save our very core foundation.  If I don't know the people I live with - shame on me for not showing them this fierce love that to a teenager.. is DEFINITELY - in their business.