Loving vs being loved
Whenever I look to be loved, more than I seek to love others, I suffer. Whenever we look to get, we lose. Whenever we look to give, we win. When we give love that is not returned, we win. When we love those who hate and mistreat us, we win. When we love others expecting nothing in return, we win, "But that's not fair!" you say. I'm not talking about fairness. I'm talking about life. When we are not loved by those who are "supposed" to love us, it hurts. Deeply. You can try to reason away why they are so hateful, but it still hurts. Remember, people have issues. Old Testament Joseph was abandoned and left for dead by his brothers. That wasn't love. That was hate built on a foundation of jealousy and envy. Certainly that was not how it was "supposed" to be. Yet it happened. But God allowed it for Joseph's ultimate good. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the savin