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Sometimes I feel inspired when I write this article and sometimes I don’t.  But that’s just a feeling.

There was a song that came out a long time ago written by Andy Williams called “Feelings”.  The first line is, “Feelings, nothing more than feelings” and how true that statement is.

Feelings are just that, feelings.

Williams is writing about a girl he is trying to forget; but can’t.

Another line that is so true is “Feelings, for all my life I’ll feel it”.

When we have strong memories of something good or bad, we feel it.  It either hurts us or makes us smile.

I was reading in 1 John 4 this morning and it talks about how we must love one another in order to be one of God’s children.

So, I started thinking about all the people I don’t love.  I questioned myself why I don’t love these people.

One answer was because they are mean.  Its very hard to love someone when they are not nice.

But I thought about my children and my husband who I do love, and they are not always nice.  I’m mad or hurt at the time, but that does not mean that I no longer love them.

I also read vs 8 in 1 John that states if you’re not loving, then you have not known God, or be His child.

I actually had to look at both sides of this to see it as it is.  I always look at things from the perspective of how I see things, or “how I feel” about things.  This way of thinking has led me down a path of doubt that I can’t possible be God’s child, since I don’t “love one another”.  I started thinking about the people who I do care for and the one’s I don’t.

I seem to love almost everyone that I know in my church (with a few exceptions), but I do not care for a lot of people that are in the world.

So, I Googled it, and “Gotquestions.org” said 1 John 4:21 like this:  “The “one another” in these verses is a reference to fellow believers.  A distinguishing mark of being a follower of Christ is a deep, sincere love for brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Now, I’m unsure if I have a deep sincere love for all my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I can honestly say that I do love them.

If they ask me for something, I would give it, or do it.  And I would do it gladly.  And I’m sure they would do the same for me.

There are “Christians” in the church that don’t act like Christ, and it is harder for me to love those people.

The main trait I look for in a Christian is sincerity and humility in their attitude toward others.  If they have a bad day, that’s ok.

We all do, but the rest of the time we should all try our best to be kind.

I know a lot of people don’t think I’m kind, because I am very blunt.  This seems very unfair to me because I do try to be kind to people, but I get judged on my straight forwardness.

And when the people that you’re closest to judge on those merits, it really hurts.

But I have been guilty of judging people on their forwardness and other traits that they might have, so I really don’t have room to complain.

During our social distancing, I have missed some people a lot, and others I’m just happy to see them on Facebook.

I don’t know what that says about my character, but I do see things a little clearer after doing this study.

God does expect us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, but not based on feelings.  The way I read the scriptures is actions have always been Jesus’s motto.

Are you helping your brother’s and sister’s in Christ?  There are lots we can do, and still keep our distance.

 

Karen Y. Stevens is founder of Orange County Writers Guild