Loving is Forgiving

The Real Meaning of Christmas...

is the giving of love every day.

Has anyone ever hurt you so badly, you felt crushed inside? 

I have.

Earlier this year, someone I love dearly, hurt me so much that I felt my heart was being crushed in sorrow, the false insistence inside me clamored loudly that it was a burden so heavy I'd never get over it. 

But God... He came to my rescue with his perfect wisdom:  Hold steady and believe. I have this.

My spirit reached out for those words of love and steadiness from my Savior. I clung to those even when the doubts and fear tried to overwhelm me. When I felt I was sinking in the waves of despair that things would never be right again. 

One month passed, then two. I wasn't at all sure things would ever get better. But God's words to me still rang in my mind:  Hold steady and believe. I have this. 

Then one day a text came. No asking for forgiveness. No admittance of the wrong.

But my heart bounded. They may not have admitted the wrong they'd committed. They may not

have spoken a request for forgiveness, but my love for this person abounded. I read behind the scenes and knew what was going one.

God's love through me was forgiving...

This month--December--the month we celebrate Christ's entrance into the world means even more to me today because of the hardships I've gone through. Because of those hurting times, my trust has grown, my faith in God has strengthened, my love for Him has increased. He has taught me forgiveness even when I didn't want to.

For God so loved the world (the many people who would reject him) 

that he gave his only begotten son (Could you? Could I do that? Deep thought!) 

that whosoever (anyone! everyone!) 

believeth in Him (not riches, not other people, not a position or wealth or knowledge, but God!) should not perish, but have everlasting (forever and forever!) 

life (abundant!) 

John 3:16. 

And as the brief lines of the Christmas tune above convey:

The real meaning of Christmas...

is love, 

for when we love, we forgive! 

Question: Have you ever forgiven even when no apology has been forthcoming? 

A love-filled Merry Christmas is wished for you, my friends! 

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

8 Reasons to Fall for Fall

8 Reasons to love Fall, even if you are mourning the loss of Summer.

I don't know about you, but Autumn is my jam. Plus, it's literally a great time to make jam. Eat jam. To jam in your jams. Jenn here, and I have to tell you that this season is what we (I) wait for all year long. If you just aren't feeling it yet, here are some reasons to get excited. (it is, after all now officially fall)

1.        Break in the weather. As a northern girl living in the South, I long for the cool mornings I can sip my coffee on the back porch without breaking a sweat. We need this break, no matter where we live, but especially if we live in the South.

2.         Color. Leaves changing colors is one of the most spectacular feats of nature. God puts on a show every fall and I spend hours staring at the trees in wonder.

3.         Schedule. The lazy days of summer cannot last forever, and fall brings with it new programs, school beginnings, and a generally much fuller calendar. But it’s great to get “back on track” isn’t it?

4.         Hot drinks. Coffee. Hot Cider. Hot chocolate. Wassail. You know that sensation of cupping a steaming mug in your hands, and inhaling the contents? Oh, there’s nothing better early in the morning, or late at night, right?

5.         Crock pot. Not that I never use it in the summer, but there’s something awesome about a pot of chili in the fall. Or simply soup in general. Soup on a cool day is healing, comforting, and just plain good.

6.         Leaves on the ground. More specifically, the crunch of leaves on the sidewalk when you walk through them. It’s a singular sound, and it always means fall. Plus, jumping in leaf piles is a major childhood memory, so, leaves on the ground are my favorite.

7.         Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin cake. Pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkin soup. Pumpkin everything. First let me say that this is WAY overdone. But if you just pick one and indulge yourself a couple times throughout the season, you won’t be sick of it and your fondness will come back. (But don’t do the pumpkin spice Oreo’s – That’s just wrong).

8.         Scents of the season. I am a sucker for the scents of fall. My favorite being, the scent of burning leaves. This takes me straight back to my childhood, and if I catch a whiff, or see a burning pile of leaves as I’m driving by, I slow the car and roll down the windows, inhaling like a crazy person. Also, hot cider on the stovetop, apple pie, camp fires, and hay rides (you can smell that, can’t you?)

What’s your favorite fall scent?