Relationships are hard. Cooking comes with instructions.

Relationships are hard. At least cooking comes with instructions. However, it's the relationships that count that are worth it! Hard though they may be sometimes, the fulfillment they bring is beyond measure.

It's a hard one to call as some relationships are better to be cut off - what do I mean? Well, they are the ones that constantly drag you down, depress you and make you someone other than who you are or who you were meant to be. I am not talking about those people in our lives that chip away the characteristics in us that hold us back from our potential, let's not confuse the two. I'm talking about the people who, when you walk away from them, make you feel deflated, flat and insecure. Be aware!!

But the relationships that count... the ones that you have to fight for - not fight in! These are the ones that come under attack because they unite God's family. They are the ones that scare the Devil and shake the foundations of Hell. They terrify him because they form a frontline in God. He knows Our Father is a God of relationship and therefore he will do anything to tear people apart and break them down.

Hold on to these relationships by being honest with each other in kindness, but also with truth. By lifting each other up rather than slandering. By asking for forgiveness and giving it in return. By forgetting the other person's faults and mistakes, but rather loving them for who they are in God. By saying, 'I care'. Hold on to those anyway you can, because those are the ones that count!

Jesus did. He gave up everything for relationship! He gave His life and for a moment, He even gave up His connection to God, for us. US!
We were worth that to Him and all He asks us in return is to love Him and one another. That's it!

Sounds simple huh? But in our human nature it's probably the hardest thing to do. We are able to do this only with His Holy Spirit to guide us. In our own strength we are selfish and self-seeking, but with His love in us we can love each other the way He intended. It was worth all He gave up for us to do that, so there must be a bigger reason to heed His words...

"love one another the way I have loved you."