Day 10 - Relating in Love

​“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” 
1 Corinthians 13: 4-6

Meditate or Reflect
In the first part of our journey with the fruit of the Spirit, we began with a focus on God as the origin of the fruit of the Spirit and in just being in His presence. While being mindful of God’s abiding presence in the fruit of the Spirit, we now journey with the fruit of the Spirit in ways of relating – being relational. There’s a lot of talk these days about boundaries, and at the core of boundaries is relationship – how we are relating to self and others. Leaning on the fruit of the Spirit to help us navigate relationship is the healthiest way of relating. Let’s begin with love.  In the verse for today we learn how to love well, and also ways that are not loving. 1 Corinthians 13 offers us a road map for relating in love to God, self, and others. Take a breath and remember relationships where you have loved well, and have been loved well. Also, remember relationships where either you didn’t love well, or you were not loved well. As you bring these loving and unloving memories to mind, allow the Holy Spirit to bring you back to the patience and kindness of love, a love that rejoices in truth. Consider the ways God has been relating to you in love throughout your life
 
Thoughts and Behaviors
Turn to your thoughts. Are your thoughts generally loving, or unloving? Consider the verse from 1 Corinthians 13 and reflect on these questions with the Spirit’s help: 

• Are you relating to God with loving thoughts and words? Holy Father, Blessed Redeemer…
• Are you relating to yourself with loving thoughts and words?
• Are you relating to others with loving thoughts and words? (Including people you know, and people groups you don’t know like politicians, athletes, celebrities, a different race, religion, or nationality). If love is a challenge for relating with others, begin by praying for them.
• Are others relating to you with loving words? If you are experiencing unloving words from others, this may be a relationship that should give you pause to consider your options for relating to someone who is being unloving, and set new boundaries.

Observe your behaviors. Are your behaviors  generally loving, or unloving? Consider the verse from 1 Corinthians 13 and reflect on these questions with the Spirit’s help: 

• Is your behavior toward God loving? Seeking Him, prayer, worship, quiet time, etc?
• Is your behavior toward yourself loving? Time for rest, friendship, activity, etc?
• Is your behavior toward others loving? (Including people you know, and people groups you don’t know). Being kind, of service, speaking truth in love.
• Are others relating to you with loving behaviors? If you are experiencing unloving behaviors from others, this may be a relationship that should give you pause to consider your options for relating to someone who is being unloving, and set new boundaries.

Flourishing and Protecting
When you experience someone who is consistently unloving (the jealous, prideful, rude, demanding, insulting, irritable, unjust, and harmful types), take time to determine if the relationship can be repaired, and take the appropriate steps for protecting yourself and the nature of love. And, remember that you are worthy to be loved in Christ. Also search yourself to see where you have been unloving and consider offering amends to those who are open to receive it. 
 
To flourish with love in relationships means to have trust in the person you love. Take a breath and embrace the loving relationship you have with God, trusting Him and the immeasurable love He has for you. Also, express gratitude for the relationships where you love well and are loved well.