Easter Approaches

As Easter approaches, I have been thinking a lot about charity. The love we should have for God (with all our mind, soul, heart to quote Jesus) and love we should have for our neighbor (also from Jesus). I have been working on my own attitude toward others. My Lenten 'promise' to God was to love more. That may seem very general but I am the type of person who grumbles at the person who cut me off on the freeway, the one who glares at the person who cuts in line after I've been waiting 20 minutes. My mother wisely told me that it only hurts you to get angry at those people. She is right. If they cared about your feelings, they wouldn't cut you off, cut in line, or push your cart out of the way at the supermarket while you are talking to the butcher. I have been trying hard to smile at all that I meet and not worry about the people who are in a hurry on the freeway or in the supermarket. My life has been much calmer because I've changed my attitude. People are nicer when you are nicer.

One incident hurt me deeply, however. I think it may be a test that I am not passing. On a discussion forum, someone who is supposed to be on my side of the 'aisle' critized what I said. The man I was talking to is very snide and condescending to me but I have been trying my best not to respond in kind. So when he made another snide remark disguised as 'humor' and responded with a serious post. I do not believe I was uncharitable in any way. But, this other man just had to cut in and explain to me that the other one was 'just being funny.' I was hurt because the man has been nasty, snotty, and snide and not one word to him. But this person, who should have been a friend, decided he needed to let me know that I should get a sense of humor and not take things so seriously. Maybe I should take it as a compliment that Satan is trying to get me to break my 'promise' of Charity. I don't know.

I will try my best to love God with all my heart, mind, and soul and love my neighbor as myself. (Matthew 22) After all, isn't that what Jesus did at Easter? He loved us so much that He died and came back for us. He is in Heaven waiting for us to join Him. Let us love Him and strive to be there with Him.

Peace.