(How to love every day - my reflection)

Love (put others before you) with no expectation to be loved back

Trust (trust that people love you and don’t talk badly about you even though you here your name be mentioned) 

Forgive instantly (Forgiveness is when you say: “I forgive you, I will never use it against you in the future; I will never speak of it again to you or to anyone else.”)  

·         Be aware (watch) what makes people frustrated/angry

·         Do not do those things when those people are around (if possible)

·         Give up something you want/like for others (spontaneously)

·         Do not presume that you understand where the person is coming from

·         Do not compare others to yourself (Don’t presume that everybody is at the same place (spiritually, emotionally, maturely?... ) as you are)

·         Let other person win argument (even when you know you are right)

·         Listen without answering

·         Share with someone what good somebody did for you

·         Smile even when you don’t feel like it (your bad day doesn’t to be everybody’s bad day)

(To smile is a decision not feeling)

·         Offer feedback but don’t give it unless you are asked for it

·         Remember that perfection in your eyes is not always perfection in eyes of others. (what’s perfect for me can be not good enough for others. Respect that)

I just find one old story which very much spoke to me, so I’d like to share it.

The story of two countries

There were two countries placed next to each other. One was a Christian country with long tradition, and people in there were full of love. They shared their goods with others, they had a good school system and so this country was growing in prosperity. The other country was very poor, people were selfish they were fighting each other and were really unhappy. Between those 
countries was very wide river and no bridge. 

On the shore of the Christian country lived man called Jerry. Jerry was very gifted especially in making boats and his job was taking people across the river. And there was many different people coming from the Christian country to the other country, people with different jobs, like doctors, priests, preachers and charity workers. Jerry liked to talk with these people while he was taking them across the river. After some time he got upset, thinking: “I could do so much more for God and for these people in that poor country. All day long I just sit in the boat taking people across.” And he decided that he will become a great preacher. 

He left his boat and went to study. Studying was difficult but he managed. When he graduated he felt that he is ready to preach and left for the poor country. But he didn’t get very far, because there was no one to take him across the river. 

We have our individual gifts we all cannot be a great preachers and do “great things.” And we are not called to be. We have to pray to understand what God’s plan for our life is. Jerry in that story could stay in his home, spending all his life fishing or something. But he knew that he has a gift of making boats, and he used that gift as good as he could. He did really good job. But sometimes when we see other people, we often forget our own gifts, striving for gifts of others, comparing to others. 

“Comparing yourself to others is a spiritual death. It will either make you prideful or make you despair. Just run your race.” Jeremy Riddle

God has a plan for each one of us and that plan is full of hope for His plan for us is the best.  

So let’s give Him thanks for who we are.

I am not a running person and I never go running just like that. I used to run when I was in school 10 years ago, but since that the only running I did was while playing football.

Few months ago I was asked if I would join in running with my friends, but I said: “No, I don’t need it.” Truth is that I was rather afraid of failing and being embarrassed. But one evening when I was really lazy, I decided that I need to prove myself. I decided that I will go for a secret run. It didn’t really matter that last time I run was about eight months ago, playing football. It was question of honour.

After mile and half I was already dying. It was November 27th and my ears were hurting because of cold. That was a time when I discovered my naivety. There was no way that I could run all the way I planned. So I started to pray, for there was my pride and I didn’t want to fail myself. I decided I will give it all. At home I was taught by my father never to give up.

As I run I thought about Jesus as He was going the way of the cross. He could give up anytime, except he didn’t. I knew I could give up anytime too, nobody would know, nobody would really care, but there was something that kept me going. It was like I was walking with Jesus and he was saying: “Don’t give up on me.” I realized that it was not as much about physical strength as about the strength of my will. And so many times I said: “I’m giving up, help me” and He gave me just enough strength for the next step. I felt blisters on my feet, pain in my back and my legs were burning.

  After an hour and eighteen minutes I finally stopped, just before the gate of our house. That evening I ran 8 miles without a single pause.

I realized that with God we can always do what is impossible to us He gives us just enough strength to keep going. I grew much more intimate in my relationship with Jesus especially His passion. I got rid of my laziness and as a bonus I felt good about myself still remembering that it was not me but God in me.