Recently I’ve been thinking about love and how God calls us to love people - in His way. And sometimes that looks like loving people we’ve determined are “undeserved” or sometimes that means genuinely loving those who have brought us intense pain; people who might be categorized as enemies. 

But I also think that in a rather unpopular way - loving others the way God loves them is simply putting them first. Which means in our close friendships - maybe someone really hurt you or annoyed you or whatever. Loving them means forgiving them and still pursuing a friendship with them. Maybe it’s a co-ed friendship and you wanted it to be something else and then it wasn’t and you’re hurt. Loving someone like Jesus means wanting God’s will for their lives and God’s best even if that doesn’t include you. And that principle is true for all friendships and relationships. Sometimes what is God’s best for someone’s life - is for you to take a step back. 
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And I get it - that feels painful. Even writing that I’m thinking about friends that if God asked me to let them go as friends - it would be hard. Thankfully we’re not there yet. And God is gentle so I have faith the road will be slow and gentle. But even if it’s not - I want to embrace the pain of letting go of selfishness and letting God win. 

Because really - it is selfishness. I’m not thinking of their interests or God’s plans - I’m thinking about me and what I want. 

Let’s not be those people. Let’s be people who love with abandon. Who love not to be loved back. Who love because Christ loved us and we can’t help but love others. It’s gonna be painful as God slowly molds us and makes us a little more like Him. Trimming edges doesn’t come without some pain. But it’s worth it. So let’s Love Boldly. Fiercely. Humbly. But ultimately - let’s love like Jesus loves and not the ways we want to.