The Thing About People...

... well, that's just it... they're people.

We aren't like dogs who completely overlook offenses as long as you scratch their ears and throw a stick.
We aren't like cats who find your leg, arm, or face and nuzzle into it asking for attention when they want/need attention.

Nope. Instead we let our feelings get hurt and we rarely let people know what we really need.

And not everyone has a blog where they can spill out their emotions hoping all their family and friends read it and then just know what to do. {Don't worry (or for some of you, don't get excited), I'm not about to do that.}

None of us were created to be alone. I mean, look at Adam and Eve... the first human being needed a companion... because the animals weren't doing the trick. But on the other hand, we also weren't created to suck the life out of people with our dependent neediness! When you find that perfect middle ground in a relationship, it's something to behold.

And getting to that point can be hard; it can be painful; it can be humbling. Because to get to this point in a relationship, sometimes you have to put feelings aside... and communication is key.

Sometimes you have to look past a person's face and really look into their eyes to see what's going on in their heart (ever notice how many people don't make eye contact...).

Sometimes you have to ask people what's going on in theirs.
Sometimes you have to tell people what's going on in yours.

We all want to be known, to be loved. Even the most independent of us, want someone to know us so well, they know just how to love us... even if we only let that one someone do it every so often. We still want it... and need it.

And some people are just better at this than others. Some people just know how to make you feel good. They listen to your every word. They laugh with you when things are funny. They're not afraid to be sad with you. And they always know just what you need to hear, or when to give you a hug.

They love you. Not "They love YOU"... but, "They LOVE you." They LOVE people in general. They humbly put themselves aside, and in doing that, they create space to genuinely love those around them.

And they don't humbly put themselves aside never caring for their own needs. In fact, most of the time their needs are met BY loving those around them because they have a sincere interest in and a desire to genuinely spread Love.

It seems so simple. Yet there are so few who can really actively do it. Because initially putting yourself aside is not fun. Not even a little. We want what we want, when we want it. And it's hard to think that someone else's needs could take precedence over our own. But...

Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things;
believes all things;
hopes all things;
endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

Eegh... I may need to work on a few... or all of these things because at some point in my life here on earth, I want to be actively spreading Love... in every moment I'm given, not just every so often.

It's exercise. It takes training. But eventually it will just become second-nature. Oooh, I long for this day (there's probably a few others around me longing for this for me as well!).

Start small this week... practice patience and kindness. It will be hard. You'll think to yourself, "Eeeasy. I'm so patient and kind to people."
And then you'll get around people.
Don't fret! Just practice... and just keep practicing until you get it. And even once you have it down, you're still going to have to practice.

So, this week practice patience and kindness.
We'll meet back here; same time, same place... okay, probably not the same time, but definitely same place.

Spread Love, friends.