Why I Celebrate My Weakness!

The secular world defines weakness from several perspectives such as only weak people allow someone to insult them without responding, allow someone to shove them without shoving back, cry instead of "taking it like a man",  fail to speak up when they disagree with the boss, etc.  Given this definition you might wonder why anyone would celebrate weakness, the answer is really quite simple, it is all in how you define the word.   

My redefinition of the word weakness means insults don't trigger my ego, instead they draw my concern for the person doing the insulting.  People who get physical in a confrontation are people I need to back away from and do my best to de-escalate rather than engage.  Crying is a method of releasing emotion whether joyful or sorrowful; real men cry and so do real women.  When it is time to speak up, I don't shy away but I also don't let my emotions rule over me.  I speak up when it is appropriate and I do so in a respectful and caring way.  What others see as weakness, I redefine as strength.  

My faith in Christ has taught me that if we let our emotions rule us, we are in the flesh and often that means out of control.  When we are in the spirit, we recognize what God teaches us in his word, specifically that it is in our weakness that we are made strong. Understanding the weaknesses of the flesh, enables us to turn them into strengths.  We can then delight in the midst of the insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties of life.  For when we are weak, then are we strong.  Just a little advice to go! 

(2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

True Love!

What is true love? Is it the love you have for the person you are most intimate with, for the little ones you have birthed into this world, the parents who in so many ways contributed to who you have become, or the career path which you have traveled overcoming obstacles to achieve success? We can all ponder our many life experiences to come up with our own definition of true love. What is your definition?

In the first book of Corinthians chapter 13 we are provided with a biblical definition exemplifying true love. It describes love as patient, kind, unenvious, unboastful, unwilling to dishonor others, not self seeking, not easily angered, willing to forget wrongdoings, rejoiceful in truth, protectful, trusting, hopeful, perservering, and most importantly, never failing. Wow, how much have I loved and yet not truly loved...

In my Christian walk, I depend on faith; the ability to rest assured in what I believe even when it seems unbelievable. I also depend on hope, which guides my day to day attitude and directs my attention to that which aligns with God's word. Finally, I depend on love which SHOULD engulf every action I take. I say should because people often challenge my ability to demonstrate true love.

Whether at work or home, my failure to practice patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and selflessness diminishes my ability to practice true love. If I am not careful, I could find myself becoming bitter, angry, self centered, unfulfilled, condeming, blameful, unforgiving, and unloving. This is not who I want to be and definitely not who God wants me to be. So I am determined to faithfully believe in the unbelievable, approach each day full of hope, and love unconditionally in an effort to practice true love. Because in the end, God's word reminds me that three things will last forever: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is Love, because love never fails! That is my definition of true love, what is yours? Just a little advice to go!