I think, you have hit on one of the great issues. Paul tells us about love is patient, love is kind, but what he doesn't say is 'Love is vulnerable' 'Love doesn't defend itself' and for me at least, and it sounds like you, those are big roadblocks in our lives. As an example, I can't do anything to defend myself against my wife. If she wants to hurt me, guess what I am going to be hurt. However much she wants to hurt me, that's how hurt I am going to be.
It's a terrifying thing. To love means to be in the power of another to hurt you. And they will. Loving will drive us to the same place it drove our Lord, if we love enough. If we love less we don't go quite as far down that road. To love is to follow the Man of Sorrows, and it will take us where it took Him. The price is no joke. So I don't judge anybody who has a hard time with it.
A little quote to help you through the day from Martin Luther, near the end ofbThe Bondage of the Will, 'No man can sense or feel himself to be a follower of Christ. You can only believe it.'
I think, you have hit on one of the great issues. Paul tells us about love is patient, love is kind, but what he doesn't say is 'Love is vulnerable' 'Love doesn't defend itself' and for me at least, and it sounds like you, those are big roadblocks in our lives. As an example, I can't do anything to defend myself against my wife. If she wants to hurt me, guess what I am going to be hurt. However much she wants to hurt me, that's how hurt I am going to be.
It's a terrifying thing. To love means to be in the power of another to hurt you. And they will. Loving will drive us to the same place it drove our Lord, if we love enough. If we love less we don't go quite as far down that road. To love is to follow the Man of Sorrows, and it will take us where it took Him. The price is no joke. So I don't judge anybody who has a hard time with it.
A little quote to help you through the day from Martin Luther, near the end ofbThe Bondage of the Will, 'No man can sense or feel himself to be a follower of Christ. You can only believe it.'
Thank you for the imagery of a feather falling into a hand. Priceless!