First Baptist Church of Herndon

Love on a List

Linda Soller | Dec 30, 2019

I spend a lot of time during the year encouraging you to share love. Love is the last of the themes for the advent season. While I know technically advent is over, we need to visit this theme. Why? Because telling you to share love sounds simple and clear, but it isn’t simple.  I mean do you know exactly how to do that?  I talk about it a lot and yet how often do I do it? How often do you?  

As I pondered this disconnect between knowing what needs to be done with actually doing it, I concluded I require more specific guidance. I thought maybe you could use some help too. I see there are two ways to approach the problem. The first would be to list times you could share more love. A list can help keep you focused. But such a list won’t tell you how. So, what if we do the opposite?

List ten times in the past year when you had an opportunity to share love, but for whatever reason did not. Yes, that means focusing on the failures. I suggest ten but if you are like me there are probably many more. Let’s start small. Next to each missed opportunity, list a word or two as to why you didn’t share love. It will most likely be things like; money, felt awkward, no time, or even “after thought”.  Not one of those reasons is wrong on its own. They are your reality. Each reason will give you some insight into what impacts your decision making. If you see a pattern, you’ll have even more awareness. Step two, look at the reasons and decide how to manage each one, so they won’t continue to stand in your way. You will still miss opportunities, but maybe not as often. 

No one likes to focus on failing, but if you truly desire to share love you need to understand what is holding you back. Take it from me, it’s an eye-opening exercise. Your love on a list may be the best gift you can give to yourself to start the new year.

Be humble, be grateful, and be love in our world this week! Happy New Year! :o) Linda