The simple things

It is the end of a simple but sweet day for me.  I dropped my baby off at Mimi's, went to work, picked said baby up, cooked dinner, played, and just got that sweet girl to bed.  A few things were different about this day.  For one, it's my grandpa's birthday.  Although, he isn't here I had an extra cup of coffee to celebrate him.  My heart was a little sad today but in a good and healthy way.  He was so dear to me that it would be unusual not to be missing him.  His character was so good and so pure that everyone loved him.  He loved everyone and he would have given his shirt off of his back.  Anyway, I will get back on track.

The other thing that was different about this day was Raleigh's bed time.  We did everything we usually do but it was different.  I began to sing as I normally do.  I start off with my usual "Jesus loves me" and ended on "The old rugged cross".  I think I have mentioned this before but I can only usually ever think of hymns to sing at bedtime for some crazy reason.  As I sang "The old rugged cross", something happened in the room.  I just began to feel the presence of the Lord in the room.  It is almost as He was giving me a hug.  As I left the room tears began to flow.  Good tears.  I started to think about the simple things of life.  When I was a child things were so sweet and simple with my grandparents.  I guess that song just took me back to my grandpa playing guitar and my grandma always singing that song in church.  To me, they are the sweetest, most simple people, yet they made such a huge impact on my life.  

What is it about their character that changed me so?  Well, the biggest answer is Jesus.  They loved the Lord, they loved people, they even loved each other.  Because they knew Jesus they were giving, kind, gentle, peaceful, and just plain good!  By the way, my grandmother is still here! She is still all these things.  

I guess my point in all this is to say that I think we need to get back to the simple.  Love Jesus, love people.  A big change would come if we really would LOVE as we are called to.  

This is how God loves: 

God is patient, He is kind.  He does not envy, does not boast or is not proud.  He is not rude, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs.  He does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  He never fails!  1 Corinthians 13:4-7

God is love.  The way that Jesus said we are to win people is to love one another.  John 13:35

How different would our relationships be if we lived this 1st Corinthians love?