Love God. Love People. (Yes… Even Them)
Midlife motherhood should honestly come with a medal. Or a soundtrack. Or maybe a warning label. Because let me tell you… living with teenagers? That’s an Olympic-level emotional workout. One minute they’re sweet, funny, and melting your heart… and the next minute they’re offended that you dared speak words in their general direction.
And right when I’m ready to lose it because I’ve had to ask them to do something for the bazillionth time, God drops this little reminder in my spirit again:
Love God. Love people. Yes, YOUR people! Patience, dear one…
And I’m like… Seriously, Lord? Even THESE people? The ones under my roof acting like little tornadoes with Wi-Fi?
Yes, even them. lol. God knows I love them more than anything, but gaaaah...some days, they really know how to push my buttons! Ever think they do that on purpose? Same.
…but not just them. We know we love our people no matter what...
The people outside my home... the grumpy cashier, the mom at the ballfield with a spicy attitude, the stranger who’s rude for no reason at all, that person driving the speed limit in the fast lane when you’re already running late… yeah, them too! iykyk.
Everyone has their own flavor of chaos.
Here’s the thing:
Loving God is the easy part, right?
Loving people...especially when they’re not being lovable...that’s where the sanctification kicks in. It’s the slow, steady work God does in our hearts, sanding down pride, softening reactions, and shaping us into someone who reflects Christ more than our mood.
Aka: emotional control.
Aka: I’m a work in progress…because maybe, just maybe, somedays...I'm not very lovable either. Just being honest...
It looks like choosing not to match someone’s attitude just because they threw it at you.
It looks like taking a deep breath before responding to a teenager whose hormones have taken the wheel.
It looks like smiling at the woman who gave you a look that would’ve made pre-Jesus you roll your eyes right back and say something you shouldn’t have.
It looks like deciding that someone else’s bad day won’t steal the joy God gave you today.
And listen… some days I do great. Other days? I’m a walking “Lord, help me before I say what I am thinking” prayer. Sanctification. lol. I’ll bite my tongue, but I can’t guarantee my face won’t reflect how I feel! Who’s with me? lol
But that’s why loving GOD comes first. Because without Him, loving difficult people becomes optional. With Him, loving difficult people becomes possible.
The more I lean into Him, the more He softens the edges...my edges, their edges...the sharp moments that could turn into battles but don’t have to.
Loving people isn’t about rewarding their bad behavior. It’s about reflecting the heart of the One who loves me on my worst days. Everyone is fighting a battle we don’t know anything about, and sometimes it’s reflected in their actions toward others.
Simple words.
Daily choices.
Sanctification = growth. A work of God’s grace.
Love God.
Love people.
Yes, even them…
Repeat.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37–39
I just dropped a new hoodie with this to do list on it. Perfect for when you're cheering on your kids from the bleachers, grabbing a coffee with a friend or just running errands around town! Check it out in my Etsy shop!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4474521710/love-god-love-people-hoodie-christian
